REESE  LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Class 


RECOLLECTIONS  AND  LETTERS 

OF 

GENERAL  ROBERT  E.  LEE 


GENERAL  ROBERT  E.  LEE 
Photographed  in  1869  — his  last  sitting 


RECOLLECTIONS  AND  LETTERS 
OF    GENERAL    ROBERT    E.    LEE 

I 

BY  HIS   SON 
CAPTAIN   ROBERT  E.  LEE 


With  Photogravure  Portraits 


•SprECSS!^ 

*         OF  THE       0- 

UNIVERSITY 


OF 


New  York 

Doubleday,  Page  &  Company 
1905 


> 


Copyright,  1904,  by 

Doubleday,  Page  &  Company 

Published,  October,  1904 


To   MY   DAUGHTERS 
ANNE   CARTER 

AND 
MARY  CUSTIS 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  I  PAG1 

SERVICES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY  3 

Captain  Lee,  of  the  Engineers,  a  hero  to  his  child — The 
family  pets — Home  from  the  Mexican  War — Three  years 
in  Baltimore — Superintendent  of  the  West  Point  Military 
Academy  —  Lieutenant  -  Colonel  of  Second  Cavalry  —  Sup 
presses  "John  Brown  Raid"  at  Harper's  Ferry — Commands 
the  Department  of  Taxes. 

CHAPTER  II 

THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  24 

Resigns  from  Colonelcy  of  First  United  States  Cavalry- 
Motives  for  this  step — Chosen  to  command  Virginia  forces — 
Anxiety  about  his  wife,  family,  and  possessions — Chief  ad 
viser  to  President  Davis — Battle  of  Manassas — Military 
operations  in  West  Virginia — Letter  to  State  Governor. 

CHAPTER  III 

LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS  48 

From  Camp  on  Sewell's  Mountain — Quotation  from  Colonel 
Taylor's  book — From  Professor  Wm.  P.  Trent — From  Mr. 
Davis's  Memorial  Address — Defense  of  Southern  ports- 
Christmas,  1 86 1 — The  General  visits  his  father's  grave — 
Commands,  under  the  President,  all  the  armies  of  the  Con 
federate  States. 

CHAPTER  IV 

ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER  69 

Volunteer    in    Rockbridge   Artillery — "Four   Years   with 

General  Lee"  quoted — Meetings  between  father  and  son — 

vii 


viii  CONTENTS 

Personal  characteristics  of  the  General — Death  of  his  daughter 
Annie — His  son  Robert  raised  from  the  ranks — The  horses, 
"Grace  Darling"  and  "Traveller" — Fredericksburg — Freeing 
slaves. 

CHAPTER  V  PAGE 

THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA  91 

The  General's  sympathy  for  his  suffering  soldiers — Chancel- 
lorsville — Death  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson — General  Fitzhugh 
Lee  wounded  and  captured — Escape  of  his  brother  Robert — 
Gettysburg — Religious  revival — Infantry  review — Unsatis 
factory  commissariat. 

CHAPTER  VI 

THE  WINTER  OF  1863-4  112 

The  Lee  family  in  Richmond — The  General's  letters  to 
them  from  Camps  Rappahannock  and  Rapidan — Death  of 
Mrs.  Fitzhugh  Lee — Preparations  to  meet  General  Grant— 
The  Wilderness — Spottsylvania  Court  House — Death  of 
General  Stuart — General  Lee's  illness. 

CHAPTER  VII 

FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC  128 

Battle  of  Cold  Harbour— Siege  of  Petersburg— The  General 
intrusts  a  mission  to  his  son  Robert — Battle  of  the  Crater — 
Grant  crosses  the  James  River General  Long's  pen- 
picture  of  Lee — Knitting  socks  for  the  soldiers — A  Christmas 
dinner — Incidents  of  camp  life. 

CHAPTER  VIII 

THE    SURRENDER  144 

Fort  Fisher  captured — Lee  made  Commander-in-Chief — 
Battle  of  Five  Forks— Retreat  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia — The  General's  farewell  to  his  men — His  reception 
in  Richmond  after  the  surrender — President  Davis  hears  the 
news — Lee's  visitors — His  son  Robert  turns  farmer. 


CONTENTS  ix 

CHAPTER  IX  PAGE 

A  PRIVATE  CITIZEN  162 

Lee's  conception  of  the  part — His  influence  exerted  toward 

the  restoration  of  Virginia — He  visits  old  friends  throughout 

the  country — Receives  offers  of  positions — Compares  notes 

with  the  Union  General  Hunter — Longs  for  a  country  home — 

Finds  one  at  "Derwent,"  near  Cartersville. 

CHAPTER  X 

PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE  179 

Patriotic  motives  for  acceptance  of  trust — Condition  of 
college — The  General's  arrival  at  Lexington — He  prepares 
for  the  removal  of  his  family  to  that  city — Advice  to  Robert, 
Junior — Trip  to  "Bremo"  on  private  canal-boat — Mrs. 
Lee's  invalidism. 

CHAPTER  XI 

THE  IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH  198 

Photographs  and  autographs  in  demand — The  General's 
interest  in  young  people — His  happy  home  life — Labours  at 
Washington  College — He  gains  financial  aid  for  it — Worsley's 
translation  of  Homer  dedicated  to  him — Tributes  from  other 
English  scholars. 

CHAPTER  XII 

LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR  218 

His  intention  to  write  the  history  of  his  Virginia  cam 
paigns — Called  before  a  committee  of  Congress — Preaches 
patience  and  silence  to  the  South — Shuns  controversy  and 
publicity — Correspondence  with  an  Englishman,  Herbert  C. 
Saunders. 

CHAPTER  XIII 

FAMILY    AFFAIRS  235 

The  General  writes  to  his  sons — To  his  wife  at  Rockbridge 

Baths — He  joins  her  there  about  once  a  week — Distinguished 

and    undistinguished    callers    at    his    Lexington    home— He 

advocates  early  hours — His  fondness  for  animals. 


x  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XIV  PAGK 

AN    IDEAL    FATHER  252 

Letters  to  Mildred  Lee— To  Robert— To  Fitzhugh— Inter 
viewed  by  Swinton,  historian  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — 
Improvement  in  grounds  and  buildings  of  Washington 
College — Punctuality  a  prominent  trait  of  its  President — A 
strong  supporter  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

CHAPTER  XV 

MOUNTAIN    RIDES  264 

An  incident  about  " Traveller" — The  General's  love  for 
children — His  friendship  for  Ex-President  Davis — A  ride  with 
his  daughter  to  the  Peaks  of  Otter — Mildred  Lee's  narrative — 
Mrs.  Lee  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs — The  great  attention 
paid  her  husband  there — His  idea  of  life. 

CHAPTER  XVI 

AN  ADVISER  OP  YOUNG  MEN  280 

Lee's  policy  as  college  president — His  advice  on  agricultural 

matters — His  affection,  for  his  prospective  daughter-in-law — 

Fitzhugh's  wedding — The  General's  ovation  at  Petersburg — 

His  personal  interest  in  the  students  under  his  care. 

CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD  299 

The  General  believes  in  the  enforcement  of  law  and  order — 

His  moral  influence  in  the  college — Playful  humour  shown  in 

his  letters — His  opinion  of  negro  labour — Mr.  Davis's  trial — 

Letter  to  Mrs.  Fitzhugh  Lee — Intercourse  with  Faculty. 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

MRS.     R.     E.     LEE  318 

Goes  to  Warm    Springs  for  rheumatism — Her  daughter 

Mildred  takes  typhoid  there — Removes  to   Hot    Springs — 

Her   husband's   devotion — Visit   of   Fitzhugh   and   bride   to 

Lexington — Miss  Jones,  a  would-be  benefactor  of  Washington 


CONTENTS  xi 

College — Fate  of  Washington  relics  belonging  to  Mrs.  Lee's 
family. 

CHAPTER  XIX  FAGf 

LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  His  SONS  339 

The  building  of  Robert's  house — The  General  as  a  railroad 

delegate — Lionised  in  Baltimore — Calls  on  President  Grant — 

Visits   Alexandria — Declines   to   be   interviewed — Interested 

in  his  grandson — The  Washington  portraits. 

CHAPTER  XX 

THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON  357 

Numerous  guests — Further  sojourns  at  different  Baths — 
Death  of  the  General's  brother,  Smith  Lee — Visits  to  "Ravens- 
worth"  and  "The  White  House" — Meetings  with  interesting 
people  at  White  Sulphur  Springs — Death  of  Professor  Preston. 

CHAPTER  XXI 

FAILING    HEALTH  376 

The    General   declines   lucrative    positions   in    New   York 

and    Atlanta — He    suffers    from    an    obstinate    cold — Local 

gossip — He  is  advised  to  go  South  in  the  spring  of  1870 — 

Desires  to  visit  his  daughter  Annie's  grave. 

CHAPTER  XXII 

THE    SOUTHERN    TRIP  388 

Letters  to  Mrs.  Lee  from  Richmond  and  Savannah — 
From  Brandon — Agnes  Lee's  account  of  her  father's  greetings 
from  old  friends  and  old  soldiers — Wilmington  and  Norfolk 
do  him  honour — Visits  to  Fitzhugh  and  Robert  in  their 
homes. 

CHAPTER  XXIII 

A   ROUND    OF   VISITS  412 

Baltimore — Alexandria — A  war-talk  with   Cousin   Cassius 

Lee — "  Ravensworth  " — Letter  to  Doctor  Buckler  declining 


xii  CONTENTS 

invitation  to  Europe — To  General  Cooper — To  Mrs.  Lee  from 
the  Hot  Springs — Tired  of  public  places — Preference  for 
country  life. 

CHAPTER  XXIV  PAGE 

LAST  DAYS  431 

Letter  to  his  wife — To  Mr.  Tagart — Obituary  notice  in 
"Personal  Reminiscences  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee" — Mrs. 
Lee's  account  of  his  death. 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

GENERAL  ROBERT  E.  LEE 

Photographed  in  1869 — his  last  sitting        Frontispiece 

FACING  PAGE 

ROBERT  E.  LEE 

Photographed  in    1850  or  1851,  when   he  was 
Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Engineers  10 

GENERAL  ROBERT  E.  LEE 

Photographed  in  1862  or  1863      -  88 

VALENTINE'S  RECUMBENT  FIGURE  OF  LEE 

Washington  and  Lee  University,  Lexington,  Va.     434 


RECOLLECTIONS  AND  LETTERS 

OF 

GENERAL  ROBERT  E.  LEE 


RECOLLECTIONS  AND  LETTERS  OF 
GENERAL  LEE 

CHAPTER  I 

SERVICES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY 

CAPTAIN  LEE,  OF  THE  ENGINEERS,  A  HERO  TO  HIS  CHILD 

THE  FAMILY  PETS — HOME  FROM  THE  MEXICAN  WAR 

THREE  YEARS  IN  BALTIMORE — SUPERINTENDENT  OF 

THE  WEST  POINT  MILITARY  ACADEMY — LIEUTENANT- 
COLONEL  OF  SECOND  CAVALRY — SUPPRESSES  "  JOHN 
BROWN  RAID"  AT  HARPER'S  FERRY — COMMANDS  THE 
DEPARTMENT  OF  TEXAS 

THE  first  vivid  recollection  I  have  of  my  father  is 
his  arrival  at  Arlington,  after  his  return  from  the 
Mexican  War.  I  can  remember  some  events  of 
which  he  seemed  a  part,  when  we  lived  at  Fort  Hamilton, 
New  York,  about  1846,  but  they  are  more  like  dreams, 
very  indistinct  and  disconnected — naturally  so,  for  I  was 
at  that  time  about  three  years  old.  But  the  day  of  his 
return  to  Arlington,  after  an  absence  of  more  than  two 
years,  I  have  always  remembered.  I  had  a  frock  or  blouse 
of  some  light  wash  material,  probably  cotton,  a  blue 
ground  dotted  over  with  white  diamond  figures.  Of  this 
I  was  very  proud,  and  wanted  to  wear  it  on  this  impor 
tant  occasion.  Eliza,  my  "mammy,"  objecting,  we  had 
a  contest  and  I  won.  Clothed  in  this,  my  very  best,  and 
with  my  hair  freshly  curled  in  long  golden  ringlets,  I 

3 


4         RECOLLECTIONS   OF   GENERAL  LEE 

went  down  into  the  large  hall  where  the  whole  household 
was  assembled,  eagerly  greeting  my  father,  who  had  just 
arrived  on  horseback  from  Washington,  having  missed 
in  some  way  the  carriage  which  had  been  sent  for  him. 

There  was  visiting  us  at  this  time  Mrs.  Lippitt,  a  friend 
of  my  mother's,  with  her  little  boy,  Armistead,  about 
my  age  and  size,  also  with  long  curls.  Whether  he  wore 
as  handsome  a  suit  as  mine  I  cannot  remember,  but  he 
and  I  were  left  together  in  the  background,  feeling  rather 
frightened  and  awed.  After  a  moment's  greeting  to 
those  surrounding  him,  my  father  pushed  through  the 
crowd,  exclaiming: 

"Where  is  my  little  boy?" 

He  then  took  up  in  his  arms  and  kissed — not  me,  his 
own  child  in  his  best  frock  with  clean  face  and  well- 
arranged  curls — but  my  little  playmate,  Armistead ! 
I  remember  nothing  more  of  any  circumstances  connected 
with  that  time,  save  that  I  was  shocked  and  humiliated. 
I  have  no  doubt  that  he  was  at  once  informed  of  his 
mistake  and  made  ample  amends  to  me. 

A  letter  from  my  father  to  his  brother  Captain  S.  S. 
Lee,  United  States  Navy,  dated  "Arlington,  June  30, 
1848,"  tells  of  his  coming  home: 

"Here  I  am  once  again,  my  dear  Smith,  perfectly 
surrounded  by  Mary  and  her  precious  children,  who 
seem  to  devote  themselves  to  staring  at  the  furrows  in 
my  face  and  the  white  hairs  in  my  head.  It  is  not  sur 
prising  that  I  am  hardly  recognisable  to  some  of  the 
young  eyes  around  me  and  perfectly  unknown  to  the 
youngest.  But  some  of  the  older  ones  gaze  with  aston 
ishment  and  wonder  at  me,  and  seem  at  a  loss  to  reconcile 
what  they  see  and  what  was  pictured  in  their  imagina 
tions.  I  find  them,  too,  much  grown,  and  all  well,  and 
I  have  much  cause  for  thankfulness,  and  gratitude  to 
that  good  God  who  has  once  more  united  us." 


SERVICES   IN   THE   ARMY  5 

My  next  recollection  of  my  father  is  in  Baltimore, 
while  we  were  on  a  visit  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Marshall,  the 
wife  of  Judge  Marshall.  I  remember  being  down  on  the 
wharves,  where  my  father  had  taken  me  to  see  the  landing 
of  a  mustang  pony  which  he  had  gotten  for  me  in  Mexico, 
and  which  had  been  shipped  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Baltimore 
in  a  sailing  vessel.  I  was  all  eyes  for  the  pony,  and  a  very 
miserable,  sad-looking  object  he  was.  From  his  long 
voyage,  cramped  quarters  and  unavoidable  lack  of 
grooming,  he  was  rather  a  disappointment  to  me,  but  I 
soon  got  over  all  that.  As  I  grew  older,  and  was  able 
to  ride  and  appreciate  him,  he  became  the  joy  and  pride 
of  my  life.  I  was  taught  to  ride  on  him  by  Jim  Connally, 
the  faithful  Irish  servant  of  my  father,  who  had  been 
with  him  in  Mexico.  Jim  used  often  to  tell  me,  in  his 
quizzical  way,  that  he  and  "Santa  Anna"  (the  pony's 
name)  were  the  first  men  on  the  walls  of  Chepultepec. 
This  pony  was  pure  white,  five  years  old  and  about 
fourteen  hands  high.  For  his  inches,  he  was  as  good  a 
horse  as  I  ever  have  seen.  While  we  lived  in  Baltimore, 
he  and  "Grace  Darling,"  my  father's  favourite  mare, 
were  members  of  our  family. 

Grace  Darling  was  a  chestnut  of  fine  size  and  of  great 
power,  which  he  had  bought  in  Texas  on  his  way  out  to 
Mexico,  her  owner  having  died  on  the  march  out.  She 
was  with  him  during  the  entire  campaign,  and  was  shot 
seven  times ;  at  least,  as  a  little  fellow  I  used  to  brag  about 
that  number  of  bullets  being  in  her,  and  since  I  could 
point  out  the  scars  of  each  one,  I  presume  it  was  so. 
My  father  was  very  much  attached  to  and  proud  of  her, 
always  petting  her  and  talking  to  her  in  a  loving  way, 
when  he  rode  her  or  went  to  see  her  in  her  stall.  Of  her 
he  wrote  on  his  return  home : 


6         RECOLLECTIONS   OF   GENERAL   LEE 

"I  only  arrived  yesterday,  after  a  long  journey  up  the 
Mississippi,  which  route  I  was  induced  to  take,  for  the 
better  accommodation  of  my  horse,  as  I  wished  to  spare 
her  as  much  annoyance  and  fatigue  as  possible,  she 
already  having  undergone  so  much  suffering  in  my 
service.  I  landed  her  at  Wheeling  and  left  her  to  come 
over  with  Jim." 

Santa  Anna  was  found  lying  cold  and  dead  in  the  park 
at  Arlington  one  morning  in  the  winter  of  '6o-'6i.  Grace 
Darling  was  taken  in  the  spring  of  '62  from  the  White 
House  *  by  some  Federal  quartermaster,  when  McClellan 
occupied  that  place  as  his  base  of  supplies  during  his 
attack  on  Richmond.  When  we  lived  in  Baltimore, 
I  was  greatly  struck  one  day  by  hearing  two  ladies  who 
were  visiting  us  saying: 

"Everybody  and  everything — his  family,  his  friends, 
his  horse,  and  his  dog — loves  Colonel  Lee." 

The  dog  referred  to  was  a  black-and-tan  terrier  named 
"Spec,"  very  bright  and  intelligent  and  really  a  member 
of  the  family,  respected  and  beloved  by  ourselves  and 
well  known  to  all  who  knew  us.  My  father  picked  up 
his  mother  in  the  " Narrows"  while  crossing  from  Fort 
Hamilton  to  the  fortifications  opposite  on  Staten  Island. 
She  had  doubtless  fallen  overboard  from  some  passing 
vessel  and  had  drifted  out  of  sight  before  her  absence 
had  been  discovered.  He  rescued  her  and  took  her 
home,  where  she  was  welcomed  by  his  children  and  made 
much  of.  She  was  a  handsome  little  thing,  with  cropped 
ears  and  a  short  tail.  My  father  named  her  "Dart." 
She  was  a  fine  ratter,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a  Maltese 

*  My  brother's  place  on  the  Pamunkey  River,  where  the  mare  had 
been  sent  for  safe  keeping. 


SERVICES    IN   THE   ARMY  7 

cat,  also  a  member  of  the  family,  the  many  rats  which 
infested  the  house  and  stables  were  driven  away  or 
destroyed.  She  and  the  cat  were  fed  out  of  the  same 
plate,  but  Dart  was  not  allowed  to  begin  the  meal  until 
the  cat  had  finished. 

Spec  was  born  at  Fort  Hamilton  and  was  the  joy  of  us 
children,  our  pet  and  companion.  My  father  would  not 
allow  his  tail  and  ears  to  be  cropped.  When  he  grew  up, 
he  accompanied  us  everywhere  and  was  in  the  habit  of 
going  into  church  with  the  family.  As  some  of  the  little 
ones  allowed  their  devotions  to  be  disturbed  by  Spec's 
presence,  my  father  determined  to  leave  him  at  home  on 
those  occasions.  So  the  next  Sunday  morning,  he  was 
sent  up  to  the  front  room  of  the  second  story.  After  the 
family  had  left  for  church  he  contented  himself  for  awhile 
looking  out  of  the  window,  which  was  open,  it  being 
summer  time.  Presently  impatience  overcame  his  judg 
ment  and  he  jumped  to  the  ground,  landed  safely  not 
withstanding  the  distance,  joined  the  family  just  as  they 
reached  the  church,  and  went  in  with  them  as  usual, 
much  to  the  joy  of  the  children.  After  that  he  was  allowed 
to  go  to  church  whenever  he  wished.  My  father  was 
very  fond  of  him,  and  loved  to  talk  to  him  and  about 
him  as  if  he  were  really  one  of  us.  In  a  letter  to  my 
mother,  dated  Fort  Hamilton,  January  18,  1846,  when 
she  and  her  children  were  on  a  visit  to  Arlington,  he 
thus  speaks  of  him: 

".  .  .  I  am  very  solitary,  and  my  only  company 
is  my  dog  and  cats.  But  *  Spec '  has  become  so  jealous 
now  that  he  will  hardly  let  me  look  at  the  cats.  He 
seems  to  be  afraid  that  I  am  going  off  from  him,  and 
never  lets  me  stir  without  him.  Lies  down  in  the  office 
from  eight  to  four  without  moving,  and  turns  himself 


8         RECOLLECTIONS    OF   GENERAL   LEE 

before  the  fire  as  the  side  from  it  becomes  cold.  I 
catch  him  sometimes  sitting  up  looking  at  me  so  intently 
that  I  am  for  a  moment  startled.  .  .  ." 

In  a  letter  from  Mexico  written  a  year  later — December 
25,  '46,  to  my  mother,  he  says: 

".  .  .  Can't  you  cure  poor  'Spec/  Cheer  him 
up — take  him  to  walk  with  you  and  tell  the  children  to 
cheer  him  up.  .  .  ." 

In  another  letter  from  Mexico  to  his  eldest  boy,  just 
after  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  he  sends  this  message  to 
Spec.  .  .  . 

"Tell  him  I  wish  he  was  here  with  me.  He  would  have 
been  of  great  service  in  telling  me  when  I  was  coming 
upon  the  Mexicans.  When  I  was  reconnoitering  around 
Vera  Cruz,  their  dogs  frequently  told  me  by  barking 
when  I  was  approaching  them  too  nearly.  .  .  ." 

When  he  returned  to  Arlington  from  Mexico,  Spec  was 
the  first  to  recognise  him,  and  the  extravagance  of  his 
demonstrations  of  delight  left  no  doubt  that  he  knew 
at  once  his  kind  master  and  loving  friend,  though  he  had 
been  absent  three  years.  Sometime  during  our  residence 
in  Baltimore,  Spec  disappeared,  and  we  never  knew 
his  fate. 

From  that  early  time  I  began  to  be  impressed  with 
my  father's  character,  as  compared  with  other  men. 
Every  member  of  the  household  respected,  revered  and 
loved  him  as  a  matter  of  course,  but  it  began  to  dawn  on 
me  that  every  one  else  with  whom  I  was  thrown  held 
him  high  in  their  regard.  At  forty-five  years  of  age  he 
was  active,  strong,  and  as  handsome  as  he  had  ever  been. 
I  never  remember  his  being  ill.  I  presume  he  was  in- 


SERVICES   IN   THE   ARMY  9 

disposed  at  times ;  but  no  impressions  of  that  kind  remain. 
He  was  always  bright  and  gay  with  us  little  folk,  romping, 
playing,  and  joking  with  us.  With  the  older  children,  he 
was  just  as  companionable,  and  I  have  seen  him  join  my 
elder  brothers  and  their  friends  when  they  would  try 
their  powers  at  a  high  jump  put  up  in  our  yard.  The 
two  younger  children  he  petted  a  great  deal,  and  our 
greatest  treat  was  to  get  into  his  bed  in  the  morning  and 
lie  close  to  him,  listening  while  he  talked  to  us  in  his 
bright,  entertaining  way.  This  custom  we  kept  up  until 
I  was  ten  years  old  and  over.  Although  he  was  so  joy 
ous  and  familiar  with  us,  he  was  very  firm  on  all  proper 
occasions,  never  indulged  us  in  anything  that  was  not 
good  for  us,  and  exacted  the  most  implicit  obedience. 
I  always  knew  that  it  was  impossible  to  disobey  my 
father.  I  felt  it  in  me,  I  never  thought  why,  but  was 
perfectly  sure  when  he  gave  an  order  that  it  had  to  be 
obeyed.  My  mother  I  could  sometimes  circumvent,  and 
at  times  took  liberties  with  her  orders,  construing  them 
to  suit  myself ;  but  exact  obedience  to  every  mandate  of 
my  father  was  a  part  of  my  life  and  being  at  that  time. 
He  was  very  fond  of  having  his  hands  tickled,  and,  what 
was  still  more  curious,  it  pleased  and  delighted  him  to 
take  off  his  slippers  and  place  his  feet  in  our  laps  in  order 
to  have  them  tickled.  Often,  as  little  things,  after 
romping  all  day,  the  enforced  sitting  would  be  too  much 
for  us,  and  our  drowsiness  would  soon  show  itself  in  con 
tinued  nods.  Then,  to  arouse  us,  he  had  a  way  of  stir 
ring  us  up  with  his  foot — laughing  heartily  at  and  with 
us.  He  would  often  tell  us  the  most  delightful  stories, 
and  then  there  was  no  nodding.  Sometimes,  however, 
our  interest  in  his  wonderful  tales  became  so  engrossing 
that  we  would  forget  to  do  our  duty — when  he  would 


io       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL   LEE 

declare,  "No  tickling,  no  story!"  When  we  were  a 
little  older,  our  elder  sister  told  us  one  winter  the  ever- 
delightful  "  Lady  of  the  Lake."  Of  course,  she  told  it  in 
prose  and  arranged  it  to  suit  our  mental  capacity.  Our 
father  was  generally  in  his  corner  by  the  fire,  most  prob 
ably  with  a  foot  in  either  the  lap  of  myself  or  youngest 
sister — the  tickling  going  on  briskly — and  would  come 
in  at  different  points  of  the  tale  and  repeat  line  after 
line  of  the  poem — much  to  our  disapproval — but  to 
his  great  enjoyment. 

In  January,  1849,  Captain  Lee  was  one  of  a  board  of 
army  officers  appointed  to  examine  the  coasts  of  Florida 
and  its  defenses  and  to  recommend  locations  for  new 
fortifications.  In  April  he  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of 
the  construction  of  Fort  Carroll,  in  the  Patapsco  River 
below  Baltimore.  He  was  there,  I  think,  for  three  years, 
and  lived  in  a  house  on  Madison  Street,  three  doors 
above  Biddle.  I  used  to  go  down  with  him  to  the  Fort 
quite  often.  We  went  to  the  wharf  in  a  "  bus, "  and  there 
we  were  met  by  a  boat  with  two  oarsmen,  who  rowed 
us  down  to  Sollers  Point,  where  I  was  generally  left  under 
the  care  of  the  people  who  lived  there,  while  my  father 
went  over  to  the  Fort,  a  short  distance  out  in  the  river. 
These  days  were  very  happy  ones  for  me.  The  wharves, 
the  shipping,  the  river,  the  boat  and  oarsmen,  and  the 
country  dinner  we  had  at  the  house  at  Sollers  Point,  all 
made  a  strong  impression  on  me ;  but  above  all  I  remem 
ber  my  father,  his  gentle,  loving  care  of  me,  his  bright 
talk,  his  stories,  his  maxims  and  teachings.  I  was  very 
proud  of  him  and  of  the  evident  respect  for  and  trust  in 
him  every  one  showed.  These  impressions,  obtained  at 
that  time,  have  never  left  me.  He  was  a  great  favourite 
in  Baltimore,  as  he  was  everywhere,  especially  with 


i.il  "  Lady  of  ttoe  Lake."    Of  course,  si 
prose  and  arranged  it  to  suit  0ur  mental  cap; 
father  was  generally  in  his  corner  by  the  i 
ably  with  a  foot  in  either  the  lap  of  myself  or  W 
sister--tbe  tk&Ut^  going  on  ;  ciskly-and  would  <x* 
in  at  differ^*'?   ^»!its  of  th>   xale  and  repeat  line  after 
line  of  tin    *.*?««'— nrocb    (g  #ur  disapproval— but  to 

V?HS  one  of  a  board  of 

ru  the  coasts  of -Florida 

TVS  kx^^aons  for  new 

^l  fei  ilte  .^t-  of 


ROBERT  E.  LEE 

Photographed  in   1850  or  '51,  when  he  was          (    thl 
Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Engineers 

*  V  e  wharf  in  a  "  bus/'  and  there 

.ith  f  wo -oarsmen,  who  rowed 

-    {  was  generally  left  under 

o  [••,•<•<!  there,  while  my  father 

'K>ri  'iistance  otit  in  tb  river. 

xv.  v  oy  <:>ries  for  me.     The  Starves,- 

lie  l:H>?*t  and  oarsmen,  "^M|  the 

-•iiner  w»   v,*»t  at  the  Iiouse  at  Sobers  Pi^nt,  all 

•i 'strong -ianw^ten  on  me;  but  above  aft  I  f 

Inkier,  his  gentle,  loving  care  of  mc»  his  bright 

:«ies,  his  maxims  and  teachings         was  \ 
d  of  :^'tm  and  of  the  evident  respect  for -and  l 
every  o«  ^  showed.     These  impressions,  pl)ta 


SERVICES   IN   THE   ARMY  n 

ladies  and  little  children.  When  he  and  my  mother 
went  out  in  the  evening  to  some  entertainment,  we  were 
often  allowed  to  sit  up  and  see  them  off;  my  father,  as  I 
remember,  always  in  full  uniform,  always  ready  and 
waiting  for  my  mother,  who  was  generally  late.  He 
would  chide  her  gently,  in  a  playful  way  and  with  a 
bright  smile.  He  would  then  bid  us  good-bye,  and  I 
would  go  to  sleep  with  this  beautiful  picture  in  my  mind, 
the  golden  epaulets  and  all — chiefly  the  epaulets. 

In  Baltimore,  I  went  to  my  first  school,  that  of  a  Mr. 
Rollins  on  Mulberry  Street,  and  I  remember  how  interested 
my  father  was  in  my  studies,  my  failures,  and  my  little 
triumphs.  Indeed,  he  was  so  always,  as  long  as  I  was  at 
school  and  college,  and  I  only  wish  that  all  of  the  kind, 
sensible,  useful  letters  he  wrote  me  had  been  preserved. 

My  memory  as  to  the  move  from  Baltimore,  which 
occurred  in  1852,  is  very  dim.  I  think  the  family  went 
to  Arlington  to  remain  until  my  father  had  arranged  for 
our  removal  to  the  new  home  at  West  Point. 

My  recollection  of  my  father  as  Superintendent  of  the 
West  Point  Military  Academy  is  much  more  distinct. 
He  lived  in  the  house  which  is  still  occupied  by  the 
Superintendent.  It  was  built  of  stone,  large  and  roomy, 
with  gardens,  stables,  and  pasture  lots.  We,  the  two 
youngest  children,  enjoyed  it  all.  "Grace  Darling" 
and  "  Santa  Anna"  were  there  with  us,  and  many  a  fine 
ride  did  I  have  with  my  father  in  the  afternoons,  when, 
released  from  his  office,  he  would  mount  his  old  mare  and, 
with  Santa  Anna  carrying  me  by  his  side,  take  a  five- 
or  ten-mile  trot.  Though  the  pony  cantered  delight 
fully,  he  would  make  me  keep  him  in  a  trot,  saying  play 
fully  that  the  hammering  I  sustained  was  good  for  me. 
We  rode  the  dragoon-seat,  no  posting,  and  until  I  became 


12       RECOLLECTIONS   OF  GENERAL  LEE 

accustomed  to  it  I  used  to  be  very  tired  by  the  time  I 
got  back. 

My  father  was  the  most  punctual  man  I  ever  knew. 
He  was  always  ready  for  family  prayers,  for  meals,  and 
met  every  engagement,  social  or  business,  at  the  moment. 
He  expected  all  of  us  to  be  the  same,  and  taught  us  the 
use  and  necessity  of  forming  such  habits  for  the  con 
venience  of  all  concerned.  I  never  knew  him  late  for 
Sunday  service  at  the  Post  Chapel.  He  used  to  appear 
some  minutes  before  the  rest  of  us,  in  uniform,  jokingly 
rallying  my  mother  for  being  late,  and  for  forgetting 
something  at  the  last  moment.  When  he  could  wait  no 
longer  for  her,  he  would  say  that  he  was  off  and  would 
march  along  to  church  by  himself,  or  with  any  of  the 
children  who  were  ready.  There  he  sat  very  straight — 
well  up  the  middle  aisle — and,  as  I  remember,  always 
became  very  sleepy,  and  sometimes  even  took  a  little  nap 
during  the  sermon.  At  that  time,  this  drowsiness  of 
my  father's  was  something  awful  to  me,  inexplicable. 
I  know  it  was  very  hard  for  me  to  keep  awake,  and 
frequently  I  did  not;  but  why  he,  who  to  my  mind 
could  do  everything  that  was  right,  without  any  effort, 
should  sometimes  be  overcome,  I  could  not  understand, 
and  did  not  try  to  do  so. 

It  was  against  the  rules  that  the  cadets  should  go 
beyond  certain  limits  without  permission.  Of  course 
they  did  go  sometimes,  and  when  caught  were  given 
quite  a  number  of  "  demerits."  My  father  was  riding  out 
one  afternoon  with  me,  and,  while  rounding  a  turn  in  the 
mountain  road  with  a  deep  woody  ravine  on  one  side, 
we  came  suddenly  upon  three  cadets  far  beyond  the 
limits.  They  immediately  leaped  over  a  low  wall  on 
the  side  of  the  road  and  disappeared  from  our  view. 


SERVICES   IN   THE  ARMY  13 

We  rode  on  for  a  minute  in  silence ;  then  my  father  said : 
"  Did  you  know  those  young  men  ?  But  no ;  if  you  did, 
don't  say  so.  I  wish  boys  would  do  what  is  right,  it 
would  be  so  much  easier  for  all  parties !" 

He  knew  he  would  have  to  report  them,  but,  not  being 
sure  of  who  they  were,  I  presume  he  wished  to  give 
them  the  benefit  of  the  doubt.  At  any  rate,  I  never 
heard  any  more  about  it.  One  of  the  three  asked  me 
next  day  if  my  father  had  recognised  them,  and  I  told 
him  what  had  occurred. 

By  this  time  I  had  become  old  enough  to  have  a  room 
to  myself,  and,  to  encourage  me  in  being  useful  and  prac 
tical,  my  father  made  me  attend  to  it,  just  as  the  cadets 
had  to  do  with  their  quarters  in  barracks  and  in  camp. 
He  at  first  even  went  through  the  form  of  inspecting  it, 
to  see  if  I  had  performed  my  duty  properly,  and  I  think 
I  enjoyed  this  until  the  novelty  wore  off.  However, 
I  was  kept  at  it,  becoming  in  time  very  proficient,  and 
the  knowledge  so  acquired  has  been  of  great  use  to  me 
all  through  life. 

My  father  always  encouraged  me  in  every  healthy  out 
door  exercise  and  sport.  He  taught  me  to  ride,  constantly 
giving  me  minute  instructions,  with  the  reasons  for  them. 
He  gave  me  my  first  sled,  and  sometimes  used  to  come  out 
where  we  boys  were  coasting  to  look  on.  He  gave  me 
my  first  pair  of  skates,  and  placed  me  in  the  care  of  a 
trustworthy  person,  inquiring  regularly  how  I  progressed. 
It  was  the  same  with  swimming,  which  he  was  very  anx 
ious  I  should  learn  in  a  proper  manner.  Professor 
Bailey  had  a  son  about  my  age,  now  himself  a  professor 
at  Brown  University,  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  who 
became  my  great  chum.  I  took  my  first  lesson  in  the 
water  with  him,  under  the  direction  and  supervision  of 


i4       RECOLLECTIONS   OF   GENERAL   LEE 

his  father.  My  father  inquired  constantly  how  I  was 
getting  along,  and  made  me  describe  exactly  my  method 
and  stroke,  explaining  to  me  what  he  considered  the 
best  way  to  swim,  and  the  reasons  therefor. 

I  went  to  a  day-school  at  West  Point,  and  had  always 
a  sympathetic  helper  in  my  father.  Often  he  would 
come  into  the  room  where  I  studied  at  night,  and, 
sitting  down  by  me,  would  show  me  how  to  overcome  a 
hard  sentence  in  my  Latin  reader  or  a  difficult  sum  in 
arithmetic,  not  by  giving  me  the  translation  of  the 
troublesome  sentence  or  the  answer  to  the  sum,  but  by 
showing  me,  step  by  step,  the  way  to  the  right  solutions. 
He  was  very  patient,  very  loving,  very  good  to  me,  and 
I  remember  trying  my  best  to  please  him  in  my  studies. 
When  I  was  able  to  bring  home  a  good  report  from  my 
teacher,  he  was  greatly  pleased,  and  showed  it  in  his 
eye  and  voice,  but  he  always  insisted  that  I  should  get 
the  "maximum,"  that  he  would  never  be  perfectly  satis 
fied  with  less.  That  I  did  sometimes  win  it,  deservedly, 
I  know  was  due  to  his  judicious  and  wise  method  of  ex 
citing  my  ambition  and  perseverance.  I  have  endeav 
oured  to  show  how  fond  my  father  was  of  his  children, 
and  as  the  best  picture  I  can  offer  of  his  loving,  tender 
devotion  to  us  all,  I  give  here  a  letter  from  him  written 
about  this  time  to  one  of  his  daughters  who  was  staying 
with  our  grandmother,  Mrs.  Custis,  at  Arlington: 

"WEST  POINT,  February  25,  1853. 
"My  Precious  Annie :  I  take  advantage  of  your  gracious 
permission  to  write  to  you,  and  there  is  no  telling  how 
far  my  feelings  might  carry  me  were  I  not  limited  by 
the  conveyance  furnished  by  the  Mim's*  letter,  which 
lies  before  me,  and  which  must,  the  Mim  says  so,  go  in 
this  morning's  mail.  But  my  limited  time  does  not 

*  His  pet  name  for  my  mother. 


SERVICES   IN   THE   ARMY  15 

diminish  my  affection  for  you,  Annie,  nor  prevent  my 
thinking  of  you  and  wishing  for  you.  I  long  to  see  you 
through  the  dilatory  nights.  At  dawn  when  I  rise,  and 
all  day,  my  thoughts  revert  to  you  in  expressions  that 
you  cannot  hear  or  I  repeat.  I  hope  you  will  always 
appear  to  me  as  you  are  now  painted  on  my  heart,  and 
that  you  will  endeavour  to  improve  and  so  conduct  your 
self  as  to  make  you  happy  and  me  joyful  all  our  lives. 
Diligent  and  earnest  attention  to  all  your  duties  can  only 
accomplish  this.  I  am  told  you  are  growing  very  tall, 
and  I  hope  very  straight.  I  do  not  know  what  the 
Cadets  will  say  if  the  Superintendent's  children  do  not 
practice  what  he  demands  of  them.  They  will  naturally 
say  he  had  better  attend  to  his  own  before  he  corrects 
other  people's  children,  and  as  he  permits  his  to  stoop  it 
is  hard  he  will  not  allow  them.  You  and  Agnes  *  must 
not,  therefore,  bring  me  into  discredit  with  my  young 
friends,  or  give  them  reason  to  think  that  I  require  more 
of  them  than  of  my  own.  I  presume  your  mother  has 
told  all  about  us,  our  neighbours  and  our  affairs.  And 
indeed  she  may  have  done  that  and  not  said  much 
either,  so  far  as  I  know.  But  we  are  all  well  and  have 
much  to  be  grateful  for.  To-morrow  we  anticipate  the 
pleasure  of  your  brother's  f  company,  which  is  always 
a  source  of  pleasure  to  us.  It  is  the  only  time  we  see 
him,  except  when  the  Corps  come  under  my  view  at  some 
of  their  exercises,  when  my  eye  is  sure  to  distinguish  him 
among  his  comrades  and  follow  him  over  the  plain. 
Give  much  love  to  your  dear  grandmother,  grandfather, 
Agnes,  Miss  Sue,  Lucretia,  and  all  friends,  including  the 
servants.  Write  sometimes,  and  think  always  of  your 

Affectionate  father, 

R.  E.  LEE." 

In  a  letter  to  my  mother  written  many  years  previous 
to  this  time,  he  says : 

*  His  third  daughter. 
t  His  son,  Custis. 


16       RECOLLECTIONS   OF   GENERAL   LEE 

"I  pray  God  to  watch  over  and  direct  our  efforts  in 
guarding  our  dear  little  son.  .  .  .  Oh,  what  pleasure 
I  lose  in  being  separated  from  my  children !  Nothing 
can  compensate  me  for  that.  .  .  ." 

In  another  letter  of  about  the  same  time : 

"You  do  not  know  how  much  I  have  missed  you  and 
the  children,  my  dear  Mary.  To  be  alone  in  a  crowd  is 
very  solitary.  In  the  woods,  I  feel  sympathy  with  the 
trees  and  birds,  in  whose  company  I  take  delight,  but 
experience  no  pleasure  in  a  strange  crowd.  I  hope  you 
are  all  well  and  will  continue  so,  and,  therefore,  must 
again  urge  you  to  be  very  prudent  and  careful  of  those 
dear  children.  If  I  could  only  get  a  squeeze  at  that 
little  fellow,  turning  up  his  sweet  mouth  to  '  keese  baba ! ' 
You  must  not  let  him  run  wild  in  my  absence,  and  will 
have  to  exercise  firm  authority  over  all  of  them.  This 
will  not  require  severity  or  even  strictness,  but  constant 
attention  and  an  unwavering  course.  Mildness  and  for 
bearance  will  strengthen  their  affection  for  you,  while  it 
will  maintain  your  control  over  them." 

In  a  letter  to  one  of  his  sons  he  writes  as  follows : 

"  I  cannot  go  to  bed,  my  dear  son,  without  writing  you 
a  few  lines,  to  thank  you  for  your  letter,  which  gave  me 
great  pleasure.  .  .  .  You  and  Custis  must  take 
great  care  of  your  kind  mother  and  dear  sisters  when 
your  father  is  dead.  To  do  that  you  must  learn  to  be 
good.  Be  true,  kind  and  generous,  and  pray  earnestly 
to  God  to  enable  you  to  keep  His  Commandments  *  and 
walk  in  the  same  all  the  days  of  your  life.'  I  hope  to 
come  on  soon  to  see  that  little  baby  you  have  got  to 
show  me.  You  must  give  her  a  kiss  for  me,  and  one  to 
all  the  children,  to  your  mother,  and  grandmother." 

The  expression  of  such  sentiments  as  these  was  common 
to  my  father  all  through  his  life,  and  to  show  that  it  was 


SERVICES    IN   THE   ARMY  17 

all  children,  and  not  his  own  little  folk  alone  that  charmed 
and  fascinated  him,  I  quote  from  a  letter  to  my  mother : 

".  .  .  I  saw  a  number  of  little  girls  all  dressed  up 
in  their  white  frocks  and  pantalets,  their  hair  plaited 
and  tied  up  with  ribbons,  running  and  chasing  each  other 
in  all  directions.  I  counted  twenty-three  nearly  the 
same  size.  As  I  drew  up  my  horse  to  admire  the  spec 
tacle,  a  man  appeared  at  the  door  with  the  twenty-fourth 
in  his  arms. 

"  '  My  friend, '  said  I, '  are  all  these  your  children  ? ' 

"  *  Yes,'  he  said,  'and  there  are  nine  more  in  the  house, 
and  this  is  the  youngest. ' 

"Upon  further  inquiry,  however,  I  found  that  they  were 
only  temporarily  his,  and  that  they  were  invited  to  a 
party  at  his  house.  He  said,  however,  he  had  been 
admiring  them  before  I  came  up,  and  just  wished  that  he 
had  a  million  of  dollars,  and  that  they  were  all  his  in 
reality.  I  do  not  think  the  eldest  exceeded  seven  or 
eight  years  old.  It  was  the  prettiest  sight  I  have  seen 
in  the  west,  and,  perhaps,  in  my  life.  .  .  ." 

As  Superintendent  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point  my  father  had  to  entertain  a  good  deal,  and  I  re 
member  well  how  handsome  and  grand  he  looked  in  uni 
form,  how  genial  and  bright,  how  considerate  of  every 
body's  comfort  of  mind  and  body.  He  was  always  a 
great  favourite  with  the  ladies,  especially  the  young 
ones.  His  fine  presence,  his  gentle,  courteous  manners 
and  kindly  smile  put  them  at  once  at  ease  with  him. 

Among  the  cadets  at  this  time  were  my  eldest  brother, 
Custis,  who  graduated  first  in  his  class  in  1854,  and  my 
father's  nephew,  Fitz.  Lee,  a  third  classman,  besides 
other  relatives  and  friends.  Saturday  being  a  half- 
holiday  for  the  cadets,  it  was  the  custom  for  all  social 
events  in  which  they  were  to  take  part  to  be  placed  on 


i8       RECOLLECTIONS   OF   GENERAL   LEE 

that  afternoon  or  evening.  Nearly  every  Saturday  a 
number  of  these  young  men  were  invited  to  our  house  to 
tea,  or  supper,  for  it  was  a  good,  substantial  meal.  The 
misery  of  some  of  these  lads,  owing  to  embarrassment, 
possibly  from  awe  of  the  Superintendent,  was  pitiable 
and  evident  even  to  me,  a  boy  of  ten  or  eleven  years  old. 
But  as  soon  as  my  father  got  command,  as  it  were,  of  the 
situation,  one  could  see  how  quickly  most  of  them  were 
put  at  their  ease.  He  would  address  himself  to  the  task 
of  making  them  feel  comfortable  and  at  home,  and  his 
genial  manner  and  pleasant  ways  at  once  succeeded. 

In  the  spring  of  '53  my  grandmother,  Mrs.  Custis, 
died.  This  was  the  first  death  in  our  immediate  family. 
She  was  very  dear  to  us,  and  was  admired,  esteemed 
and  loved  by  all  who  had  ever  known  her.  Bishop 
Meade,  of  Virginia,  writes  of  her : 

"Mrs.  Mary  Custis,  of  Arlington,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Washington  Custis,  grandson  of  Mrs.  General  Washington, 
was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Fitzhugh,  of  Chatham. 
Scarcely  is  there  a  Christian  lady  in  our  land  more 
honoured  than  she  was,  and  none  more  loved  and 
esteemed.  For  good  sense,  prudence,  sincerity,  benevo 
lence,  unaffected  piety,  disinterested  zeal  in  every  good 
work,  deep  humarity  and  retiring  modesty — for  all  the 
virtues  which  adorn  the  wife,  the  mother,  and  the  friend 
—I  never  knew  her  superior." 

In  a  letter  written  to  my  mother  soon  after  this  sad 
event  my  father  says : 

"  May  God  give  you  strength  to  enable  you  to  bear  and 
say,  'His  will  be  done.'  She  has  gone  from  all  trouble, 
care  and  sorrow  to  a  holy  immortality,  there  to  rejoice 
and  praise  forever  the  God  and  Saviour  she  so  long  and 
truly  served.  Let  that  be  our  comfort  and  that  our  con- 


SERVICES    IN   THE   ARMY  19 

solation.     May  our  death  be  like  hers,  and  may  we  meet 
in  happiness  in  Heaven." 

In  another  letter  about  the  same  time  he  writes : 

"  She  was  to  me  all  that  a  mother  could  be,  and  I  yield 
to  none  in  admiration  for  her  character,  love  for  her 
virtues,  and  veneration  for  her  memory. " 

At  this  time,  my  father's  family  and  friends  persuaded 
him  to  allow  R.  S.  Weir,  Professor  of  Painting  and 
Drawing  at  the  Academy,  to  paint  his  portrait.  As  far 
as  I  remember,  there  was  only  one  sitting,  and  the  artist 
had  to  finish  it  from  memory  or  from  the  glimpses  he 
obtained  of  his  subject  in  the  regular  course  of  their 
daily  lives  at  "The  Point."  This  picture  shows  my 
father  in  the  undress  uniform  of  a  Colonel  of  Engineers,  * 
and  many  think  it  a  very  good  likeness.  To  me,  the 
expression  of  strength  peculiar  to  his  face  is  wanting,  and 
the  mouth  fails  to  portray  that  sweetness  of  disposition 
so  characteristic  of  his  countenance.  Still,  it  was  like 
him  at  that  time.  My  father  never  could  bear  to  have 
his  picture  taken,  and  there  are  no  likenesses  of  him  that 
really  give  his  sweet  expression.  Sitting  for  a  picture 
was  such  a  serious  business  with  him  that  he  never 
could  "look  pleasant." 

In  1855  my  father  was  appointed  to  the  lieutenant- 
colonelcy  of  the  Second  Cavalry,  one  of  the  two  regiments 
just  raised.  He  left  West  Point  to  enter  upon  his  new 
duties,  and  his  family  went  to  Arlington  to  live.  Dur 
ing  the  fall  and  winter  of  1855  and  '56,  the  Second 
Cavalry  was  recruited  and  organised  at  Jefferson  Bar 
racks,  Missouri,  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Lee,  and 
in  the  following  spring  was  marched  to  western  Texas, 

*  His  appointment  of  Superintendent  of  the  Military  Academy 
carried  with  it  the  temporary  rank  of  Colonel  of  Engineers. 


20       RECOLLECTIONS   OF   GENERAL   LEE 

where  it  was  assigned  the  duty  of  protecting  the  settlers 
in  that  wild  country. 

I  did  not  see  my  father  again  until  he  came  to  my 
mother  at  Arlington  after  the  death  of  her  father,  G.  W. 
P.  Custis,  in  October,  1857.  He  took  charge  of  my 
mother's  estate  after  her  father's  death,  and  commenced 
at  once  to  put  it  in  order — not  an  easy  task,  as  it  con 
sisted  of  several  plantations  and  many  negroes.  I  was 
at  a  boarding-school,  after  the  family  returned  to  Arling 
ton,  and  saw  my  father  only  during  the  holidays,  if  he 
happened  to  be  at  home.  He  was  always  fond  of  farming, 
and  took  great  interest  in  the  improvements  he  immedi 
ately  began  at  Arlington  relating  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  farm,  to  the  buildings,  roads,  fences,  fields,  and 
stock,  so  that  in  a  very  short  time  the  appearance  of 
everything  on  the  estate  was  improved.  He  often  said 
that  he  longed  for  the  time  when  he  could  have  a  farm  of 
his  own,  where  he  could  end  his  days  in  quiet  and  peace, 
interested  in  the  care  and  improvement  of  his  own  land. 
This  idea  was  always  with  him.  In  a  letter  to  his  son, 
written  in  July,  '65,  referring  to  some  proposed  indict 
ments  of  prominent  Confederates,  he  says : 

".  .  .  As  soon  as  I  can  ascertain  their  intention 
toward  me,  if  not  prevented,  I  shall  endeavour  to  procure 
some  humble,  but  quiet  abode  for  your  mother  and 
sisters,  where  I  hope  they  can  be  happy.  As  I  before 
said,  I  want  to  get  in  some  grass  country  where  the 
natural  product  of  the  land  will  do  much  for  my  sub 
sistence.  .  .  ." 

Again  in  a  letter  to  his  son,  dated  October,  1865,  after 
he  had  accepted  the  presidency  of  Washington  College, 
Lexington,  Virginia: 

"  I  should  have  selected  a  more  quiet  life  and  a  more 


SERVICES    IN    THE   ARMY  21 

retired  abode  than  Lexington.     I  should  have  preferred 
a  small  farm,  where  I  could  have  earned  my  daily  bread." 

About  this  time  I  was  given  a  gun  of  my  own  and 
was  allowed  to  go  shooting  by  myself.  My  father,  to 
give  me  an  incentive,  offered  a  reward  for  every  crow- 
scalp  I  could  bring  him,  and,  in  order  that  I  might  get 
to  work  at  once,  advanced  a  small  sum  with  which  to  buy 
powder  and  shot,  this  sum  to  be  returned  to  him  out  of 
the  first  scalps  obtained.  My  industry  and  zeal  were 
great,  my  hopes  high,  and  by  good  luck  I  did  succeed  in 
bagging  two  crows  about  the  second  time  I  went  out.  I 
showed  them  with  great  pride  to  my  father,  intimating 
that  I  should  shortly  be  able  to  return  him  his  loan,  and 
that  he  must  be  prepared  to  hand  over  to  me  very  soon 
further  rewards  for  my  skill.  His  eyes  twinkled,  and 
his  smile  showed  that  he  had  strong  doubts  of  my  making 
an  income  by  killing  crows,  and  he  was  right,  for  I  never 
killed  another,  though  I  tried  hard  and  long. 

I  saw  but  little  of  my  father  after  we  left  West  Point. 
He  went  to  Texas,  as  I  have  stated,  in  '55  and  remained 
until  the  fall  of  '57,  the  time  of  my  grandfather's  death. 
He  was  then  at  Arlington  about  a  year.  Returning  to  his 
regiment,  he  remained  in  Texas  until  the  autumn  of 
'59,  when  he  came  again  to  Arlington,  having  applied 
for  leave  in  order  to  finish  the  settling  of  my  grand 
father's  estate.  During  this  visit  he  was  selected  by  the 
Secretary  of  War  to  suppress  the  famous  "John  Brown 
Raid,"  and  was  sent  to  Harper's  Ferry  in  command 
of  the  United  States  troops. 

From  his  memorandum  book  the  following  -  entries 
are  taken: 

"October  17,  1859.     Received  orders  from  the  Secre- 


22       RECOLLECTIONS   OF   GENERAL   LEE 

tary  of  War  in  person,  to  repair  in  evening  train  to 
Harper's  Ferry. 

''Reached  Harper's  Ferry  at  n  P.  M.  .  .  .  Posted 
marines  in  the  United  States  Armory.  Waited  until 
daylight,  as  a  number  of  citizens  were  held  as  hostages, 
whose  lives  were  threatened.  Tuesday  about  sunrise, 
with  twelve  marines,  under  Lieutenant  Green,  broke  in 
the  door  of  the  engine-house,  secured  the  insurgents, 
and  relieved  the  prisoners  unhurt.  All  the  insurgents 
killed  or  mortally  wounded,  but  four,  John  Brown, 
Stevens,  Coppie,  and  Shields." 

Brown  was  tried  and  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be 
hanged  on  December  2,  1859.  Colonel  Lee  writes  as 
follows  to  his  wife : 

"HARPER'S  FERRY,  December  i,  1859. 

"I  arrived  here,  dearest  Mary,  yesterday  about  noon, 
with  four  companies  from  Fort  Monroe,  and  was  busy 
all  the  evening  and  night  getting  accommodation  for 
the  men,  etc.,  and  posting  sentinels  and  piquets  to  insure 
timely  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  The  night 
has  passed  off  quietly.  The  feelings  of  the  community 
seem  to  be  calmed  down,  and  I  have  been  received  with 
every  kindness.  Mr.  Fry  is  among  the  officers  from 
Old  Point.  There  are  several  young  men,  former  ac 
quaintances  of  ours,  as  cadets,  Mr.  Bingham  of  Custis's 
class,  Sam  Cooper,  etc.,  but  the  senior  officers  I  never 
met  before,  except  Captain  Howe,  the  friend  of  our 
Cousin  Harriet  R . 

"I  presume  we  are  fixed  here  till  after  the  i6th.  To 
morrow  will  probably  be  the  last  of  Captain  Brown. 
There  will  be  less  interest  for  the  others,  but  still  I  think 
the  troops  will  not  be  withdrawn  till  they  are  similarly 
disposed  of. 

"Custis  will  have  informed  you  that  I  had  to  go  to 
Baltimore  the  evening  I  left  you,  to  make  arrangements 
for  the  transportation  for  the  troops.  .  .  .  This 


SERVICES  IN  THE  ARMY  23 

morning  I  was  introduced  to  Mrs.  Brown,  who,  with  a 
Mrs.  Tyndall  and  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKim,  all  from  Phila 
delphia,  had  come  on  to  have  a  last  interview  with  her 
husband.  As  it  is  a  matter  over  which  I  have  no  control 
I  referred  them  to  General  Taliaferro.* 

"You  must  write  to  me  at  this  place.  I  hope  you 
are  all  well.  Give  love  to  everybody.  Tell  Smith  t  that 
no  charming  women  have  insisted  on  taking  care  of  me 
as  they  are  always  doing  of  him — I  am  left  to  my  own 
resources.  I  will  write  you  again  soon,  and  will  always 
be  truly  and  affectionately  yours, 

"Mrs.  M.  C.  Lee.  R.  E.  LEE." 

In  February,  1860,  he  was  ordered  to  take  command 
of  the  Department  of  Texas.  There  he  remained  a  year. 
The  first  months  after  his  arrival  were  spent  in  the  vain 
pursuit  of  the  famous  brigand,  Cortinez,  who  was  con 
tinually  stealing  across  the  Rio  Grande,  burning  the 
homes,  driving  off  the  stock  of  the  ranchmen,  and  then 
retreating  into  Mexico.  The  summer  months  he  spent 
in  San  Antonio,  and  while  there  interested  himself  with 
the  good  people  of  that  town  in  building  an  Episcopal 
church,  to  which  he  contributed  largely. 

*  General  William  B.  Taliaferro,  commanding  Virginia  troops  at 
Harper's  Ferry. 

t  Sydney  Smith  Lee,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  his  brother. 


CHAPTER  II 
THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL 

RESIGNS  FROM  COLONELCY  OF  FIRST  U.  S.  CAVALRY — 
MOTIVES  FOR  THIS  STEP — CHOSEN  TO  COMMAND  VIR 
GINIA  FORCES — ANXIETY  ABOUT  HIS  WIFE,  FAMILY 
AND  POSSESSIONS — CHIEF  ADVISER  TO  PRESIDENT  DAVIS 

BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS — MILITARY  OPERATIONS  IN 

WEST  VIRGINIA — LETTER  TO  STATE  GOVERNOR 

IN  February,  1861,  after  the  secession  of  Texas,  my 
father  was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Scott,  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  United  States  Army.  He 
immediately  relinquished  the  command  of  his  regiment, 
and  departed  from  Fort  Mason,  Texas,  for  Washington. 
He  reached  Arlington  March  ist.  April  lyth,  Virginia 
seceded.  On  the  i8th  Colonel  Lee  had  a  long  inter 
view  with  General  Scott.  On  April  2oth  he  tendered 
his  resignation  of  his  commission  in  the  United  States 
Army.  The  same  day  he  wrote  to  General  Scott  the 
following  letter : 

"ARLINGTON,  Virginia,  April  20,  1861.     \ 
"General:    Since  my  interview  with  you  on  the  i8th  ! 
inst.  I  have  felt  that  I  ought  no  longer  to  retain  my 
commission  in  the  Army.     I  therefore  tender  my  resig 
nation,  which  I  request  you  will  recommend  for  accept 
ance.     It  would  have  been  presented  at  once  but  for 
the  struggle  it  has  cost  me  to  separate  myself  from  a 
service  to  which  I  have  devoted  the  best  years  of  my  life, 
and  all  the  ability  I  possessed. 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  25 

"  During  the  whole  of  that  time — more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century — I  have  experienced  nothing  but  kindness 
from  my  superiors  and  a  most  cordial  friendship  from 
my  comrades.  To  no  one,  General,  have  I  been  as  much 
indebted  as  to  yourself  for  uniform  kindness  and  con 
sideration,  and  it  has  always  been  my  ardent  desire 
to  merit  your  approbation.  I  shall  carry  to  the  grave 
the  most  grateful  recollections  of  your  kind  considera 
tion,  and  your  name  and  fame  shall  always  be  dear  to 
me. 

"  Save  in  the  defense  of  my  native  State,  I  never  desire 
again  to  draw  my  sword. 

"Be  pleased  to   accept   my  most  earnest  wishes  for 
the  continuance  of  your  happiness  and  prosperity,  and     > 
believe  me  most  truly  yours, 

"(Signed) 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

His  resignation  was  written  the  same  day. 

"ARLINGTON,  Washington  City  P.  O.,  April  20,  1861. 
"  HONOURABLE  SIMON  CAMERON,  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 

"Sir:  I  have  the  honour  to  tender  the  resignation  of 
my  command  as  Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  of  Cavalry. 
"Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE, 
"Colonel  First  Cavalry." 

To  show  further  his  great  feeling  in  thus  having  to 
leave  the  army  with  which  he  had  been  associated  so 
long,  I  give  two  more  letters,  one  to  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Anne  Marshall,  of  Baltimore,  the  other  to  his  brother, 
Captain  Sydney  Smith  Lee,  of  the  United  States  Navy : 

"ARLINGTON,  Virginia,  April  20,  1861. 
"  My  Dear  Sister:  I  am  grieved  at  my  inability  to  see 
you.     ...     I  have  been  waiting  for  a   'more  con 
venient  season,'  which  has  brought  to  many  before  me 


26        RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

deep  and  lasting  regret.  Now  we  are  in  a  state  of  war 
which  will  yield  to  nothing.  The  whole  South  is  in  a 
state  of  revolution,  into  which  Virginia,  after  a  long 
struggle,  has  been  drawn;  and  though  I  recognise  no 
necessity  for  this  state  of  things,  and  would  have  for 
borne  and  pleaded  to  the  end  for  redress  of  grievances, 
real  or  supposed,  yet  in  my  own  person  I  had  to  meet 
the  question  whether  I  should  take  part  against  my 
native  State. 

"With  all  my  devotion  to  the  Union  and  the  feeling 
of  loyalty  and  duty  of  an  American  citizen,  I  have  not 
been  able  to  make  up  my  mind  to  raise  my  hand  against 
my  relatives,  my  children,  my  home.  I  have  therefore 
resigned  my  commission  in  the  Army,  and  save  in  de 
fense  of  my  native  State,  with  the  sincere  hope  that  my 
poor  services  may  never  be  needed,  I  hope  I  may  never 
be  called  on  to  draw  my  sword.  I  know  you  will  blame 
me;  but  you  must  think  as  kindly  of  me  as  you  can, 
and  believe  that  I  have  endeavoured  to  do  what  I  thought 
right. 

"To  show  you  the  feeling  and  struggle  it  has  cost  me, 
I  send  you  a  copy  of  my  letter  of  resignation.     I  have 
no  time  for  more.     May  God  guard  and  protect  you  and 
yours,    and   shower  upon  you   everlasting  blessings,   is     / 
the  prayer  of  your  devoted  brother,  R.  E.  LEE." 

"ARLINGTON,  Virginia,  April  20,  1860. 
"My  Dear  Brother  Smith:  The  question  which  was 
the  subject  of  my  earnest  consultation  with  you  on  the 
1 8th  inst.  has  in  my  own  mind  been  decided.  After  the 
most  anxious  inquiry  as  to  the  correct  course  for  me 
to  pursue,  I  concluded  to  resign,  and  sent  in  my  resig 
nation  this  morning.  I  wished  to  wait  till  the  Ordinance 
of  Secession  should  be  acted  on  by  the  people  of  Virginia ; 
but  war  seems  to  have  commenced,  and  I  am  liable  at 
any  time  to  be  ordered  on  duty  which  I  could  not  con 
scientiously  perform.  To  save  me  from  such  a  position, 
and  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  resigning  under  orders,  I 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  27 

had  to  act  at  once,  and  before  I  could  see  you  again  on 
the  subject,  as  I  had  wished.  I  am  now  a  private  citizen, 
and  have  no  other  ambition  than  to  remain  at  home. 
Save  in  defense  of  my  native  State,  I  have  no  desire  ever 
again  to  draw  my  sword.  I  send  you  my  warmest  love. 

' 'Your  affectionate  brother, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

I  will  give  here  one  of  my  father's  letters,  written 
after  the  war,  in  which  is  his  account  of  his  resignation 
from  the  United  States  Army: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  25,   1868. 
"HONOURABLE  REVERDY  JOHNSON, 

"  UNITED  STATES  SENATE,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
"My  Dear  Sir:  My  attention  has  been  called  to  the 
official  report  of  the  debate  in  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  on  the  iQth  instant,  in  which  you  did  me  the 
kindness  to  doubt  the  correctness  of  the  statement  made 
by  the  Honourable  Simon  Cameron,  in  regard  to  myself. 
I  desire  that  you  may  feel  certain  of  my  conduct  on  the 
occasion  referred  to,  so  far  as  my  individual  statement 
can  make  you.  I  never  intimated  to  any  one  that  I 
desired  the  command  of  the  United  States  Army;  nor 
did  I  ever  have  a  conversation  with  but  one  gentle 
man,  Mr.  Francis  Preston  Blair,  on  the  subject,  which 
was  at  his  invitation,  and,  as  I  understood,  at  the  instance 
of  President  Lincoln.  After  listening  to  his  remarks,  I 
declined  the  offer  he  made  me,  to  take  command  of  the 
army  that  was  to  be  brought  into  the  field ;  stating,  as 
candidly  and  as  courteously  as  I  could,  that,  though 
opposed  to  secession  and  deprecating  war,  I  could  take 
no  part  in  an  invasion  of  the  Southern  States.  I  went 
directly  from  the  interview  with  Mr.  Blair  to  the  office 
of  General  Scott;  told  him  of  the  proposition  that  had 
been  made  to  me,  and  my  decision.  Upon  reflection 
after  returning  to  my  home,  I  concluded  that  I  ought 
no  longer  to  retain  the  commission  I  held  in  the  United 


28         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

States  Army,  and  on  the  second  morning  thereafter  I 
forwarded  my  resignation  to  General  Scott.  At  the 
time,  I  hoped  that  peace  would  have  been  preserved; 
that  some  way  would  have  been  found  to  save  the  country 
from  the  calamities  of  war;  and  I  then  had  no  other 
intention  than  to  pass  the  remainder  of  my  life  as  a 
private  citizen.  Two  days  afterward,  upon  the  invi 
tation  of  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  I  repaired  to  Rich 
mond;  found  that  the  Convention  then  in  session  had 
passed  the  ordinance  withdrawing  the  State  from  the 
Union;  and  accepted  the  commission  of  commander  of 
its  forces,  which  was  tendered  me. 

"These  are  the  ample  facts  of  the  case,  and  they 
shew  that  Mr.  Cameron  has  been  misinformed. 

"  I  am  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

My  father  reached  Richmond  April  22,  1861.  The 
next  day  he  was  introduced  to  the  Virginia  Convention, 
and  offered  by  them  the  command  of  the  military  forces 
of  his  State.  In  his  reply  to  Mr.  John  Janney,  the 
President,  who  spoke  for  the  Convention,  he  said : 

"  Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  \ 
Deeply  impressed  with  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion 
on  which  I  appear  before  you,  and  profoundly  grate 
ful  for  the  honour  conferred  upon  me,  I  accept  the 
position  your  partiality  has  assigned  me,  though  I 
would  greatly  have  preferred  your  choice  should  have 
fallen  on  one  more  capable. 

"Trusting  to  Almighty  God,  an  approving  conscience, 
and  the  aid  of  my  fellow-citizens,  I  will  devote  myself 
to  the  defense  and  service  of  my  native  State,  in  whose 
behalf  alone  would  I  have  ever  drawn  my  sword." 

On  April  26th,  from  Richmond,  he  wrote  to  his  wife: 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  29 

" .  .  .  I  am  very  anxious  about  you.  You  have 
to  move  and  make  arrangements  to  go  to  some  point 
of  safety,  which  you  must  select.  The  Mount  Vernon 
plate  and  pictures  ought  to  be  secured.  Keep  quiet 
while  you  remain  and  in  your  preparation.  War  is 
inevitable,  and  there  is  no  telling  when  it  will  burst 
around  you.  Virginia,  yesterday,  I  understand,  joined 
the  Confederate  States.  What  policy  they  may  adopt  I 
cannot  conjecture.  May  God  bless  and  preserve  you, 
and  have  mercy  upon  all  our  people,  is  the  constant 
prayer  of  your  affectionate  husband, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

On  April  3oth: 

"  On  going  to  my  room  last  night  I  found  my  trunk  and 
sword  there,  and  opening  them  this  morning  discovered 
the  package  of  letters  and  was  very  glad  to  learn  you  were 
all  well  and  as  yet  peaceful.  I  fear  the  latter  state  will 
not  continue  long.  ...  I  think  therefore  you  had 
better  prepare  all  things  for  removal,  that  is,  the  plate, 
pictures,  etc.,  and  be  prepared  at  any  moment.  Where 
to  go  is  the  difficulty.  When  the  war  commences  no  place 
will  be  exempt,  in  my  opinion,  and  indeed  all  the  avenues 
into  the  State  will  be  the  scenes  of  military  operations. 

"There  is  no  prospect  or  intention  of  the  Government 
to  propose  a  truce.  Do  not  be  deceived  by  it.  .  .  ^  . 
May  God  preserve  you  all  and  bring  peace  to  our  dis 
tracted  country." 

Again  to  my  mother  at  Arlington : 

"  RICHMOND,  May  2,  1861. 

"  My  dear  Mary:  I  received  last  night  your  letter  of  the 
ist,  with  contents.  It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to  learn 
that  you  were  all  well  and  in  peace.  You  know  how 
pleased  I  should  be  to  have  you  and  my  dear  daughters 
with  me.  That  I  fear  cannot  be.  There  is  no  place  that 


30        RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

I  can  expect  to  be  but  in  the  field,  and  there  is  no  rest  for 
me  to  look  to.  But  I  want  you  to  be  in  a  place  of  safety. 
.  .  .  We  have  only  to  be  resigned  to  God's  will  and 
pleasure,  and  do  all  we  can  for  our  protection.  ...  I 
have  just  received  Custis's  letter  of  the  3oth,  inclosing  the 
acceptance  of  my  resignation.  It  is  stated  that  it  will 
take  effect  April  25th.  I  resigned  on  the  2oth,  and 
wished  it  to  take  effect  that  day.  I  cannot  consent  to  its 
running  on  further,  and  he  must  receive  no  pay,  if  they 
tender  it,  beyond  that  day,  but  return  the  whole,  if  need 
be.  .  .  ."  j 

From  another  letter  to  my  mother,  dated  May  8th : 

" .  .  .  I  grieve  at  the  necessity  that  drives  you  from 
your  home.  I  can  appreciate  your  feelings  on  the  occa 
sion,  and  pray  that  you  may  receive  comfort  and  strength 
in  the  difficulties  that  surround  you.  When  I  reflect 
upon  the  calamity  impending  over  the  country,  my  own 
sorrows  sink  into  insignificance.  ...  Be  content  and 
resigned  to  God's  will.  I  shall  be  able  to  write  seldom. 
Write  to  me,  as  your  letters  will  be  my  greatest  comfort. 
I  send  a  check  for  $500 ;  it  is  all  I  have  in  bank.  Pay  the  > 
children's  school  expenses.  .  .  ." 

To  my  mother,  still  at  Arlington: 

"RICHMOND,  May  n,  1861.    ' 

"  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  gth  from  Arlington. 
I  had  supposed  you  were  at  Ravensworth.  ...  I  am 
glad  to  hear  that  you  are  at  peace,  and  enjoying  the  sweet 
weather  and  beautiful  flowers.  You  had  better  com 
plete  your  arrangements  and  retire  further  from  the 
scene  of  war.  It  may  burst  upon  you  at  any  time.  It 
is  sad  to  think  of  the  devastation,  if  not  ruin,  it  may  bring 
upon  a  spot  so  endeared  to  us.  But  God's  will  be  done. 
We  must  be  resigned.  May  He  guard  and  keep  you  all, 
is  my  constant  prayer." 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  31 

All  this  time  my  father  was  very  hard  at  work  organ 
ising  and  equipping  the  volunteers  who  were  pouring 
into  Richmond  from  the  Southern  States,  but  he  was  in 
constant  correspondence  with  my  mother,  helping  her 
all  he  could  in  her  arrangements  for  leaving  her  home. 
His  letters  show  that  he  thought  of  everything,  even  the 
least,  and  he  gave  the  most  particular  directions  about 
his  family,  their  effects,  the  servants,  the  horses,  the  farm, 
pictures,  plate,  and  furniture.  Being  called  to  Norfolk 
suddenly,  before  going  he  wrote  to  my  mother: 

"RICHMOND,  May  16,  1861. 

"My  Dear  Mary:  I  am  called  down  to  Norfolk  and 
leave  this  afternoon.  I  expect  to  return  Friday,  but 
may  be  delayed.  I  write  to  advise  you  of  my  absence, 
in  case  you  should  not  receive  answers  to  any  letters  that 
may  arrive.  I  have  not  heard  from  you  since  I  last 
wrote ;  nor  have  I  anything  to  relate.  I  heard  from  my 
dear  little  Rob,  who  had  an  attack  of  chills  and  fever. 
He  hoped  to  escape  the  next  paroxysm.  .  .  .1  wit 
nessed  the  opening  of  the  convention*  yesterday,  and 
heard  the  good  Bishop'sf  sermon,  being  the  5oth  anni 
versary  of  his  ministry.  It  was  a  most  impressive  scene, 
and  more  than  once  I  felt  the  tears  coming  down  my 
cheek.  It  was  from  the  text,  'and  Pharaoh  said  unto 
Jacob,  how  old  art  thou  ? '  It  was  full  of  humility  and 
self-reproach.  I  saw  Mr.  Walker,  Bishop  Johns,  Bishop 
Atkinson,  etc,  I  have  not  been  able  to  attend  any  other 
services,  and  presume  the  session  will  not  be  prolonged. 
I  suppose  it  may  be  considered  a  small  attendance. 
Should  Custis  arrive  during  my  absence,  I  will  leave  word 
for  him  to  take  my  room  at  the  Spotswood  till  my  return. 
Smith t  is  well  and  enjoys  a  ride  in  the  afternoon  with 
Mrs.  Stannard.  The  charming  women,  you  know,  always 

*  The  Episcopal  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Virginia, 
f  Bishop  Meade,  of  Virginia. 
J  His  brother,  S.  S.  Lee,  C.  S.  N. 


32         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

find  him  out.  Give  much  love  to  Cousin  Anna,  Nannie, 
and  dear  daughters.  When  Rob  leaves  the  University 
take  him  with  you. 

"Truly  and  affectionately,  R.  E.  LEE." 

By  this  time  my  mother  arid  all  the  family  had  left 
Arlington.  My  brother,  Custis,  had  joined  my  father  in 
Richmond,  the  girls  had  gone  to  Fauquier  county,  to 
visit  relatives,  and  my  mother  to  Ravensworth,  about 
ten  miles  from  Arlington  towards  Fairfax  Court  House, 
where  her  aunt,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Fitzhugh,  lived.  Always  con 
siderate  of  the  happiness  and  comfort  of  others,  my  father 
feared  that  his  wife's  presence  at  Ravensworth  might 
possibly  bring  annoyance  to  "  Cousin  Anna,"  as  he  called 
our  aunt,  and  he  wrote  to  my  mother,  urging  her  not  to 
remain  there.  He  sympathised  with  her  in  having  to 
leave  her  home,  which  she  never  saw  again. 

"RICHMOND,  May  25,  1861.    ^ 

"I  have  been  trying,  dearest  Mary,  ever  since  the 
receipt  of  your  letter  by  Custis,  to  write  to  you.  I  sym 
pathise  deeply  in  your  feelings  at  leaving  your  dear  home. 
I  have  experienced  them  myself,  and  they  are  constantly 
revived.  I  fear  we  have  not  been  grateful  enough  for  the 
happiness  there  within  our  reach,  and  our  heavenly 
Father  has  found  it  necessary  to  deprive  us  of  what  He 
has  given  us.  I  acknowledge  my  ingratitude,  my  trans 
gressions,  and  my  un worthiness,  and  submit  with  resig 
nation  to  what  he  thinks  proper  to  inflict  upon  me.  We 
must  trust  all  then  to  him,  and  I  do  not  think  it  prudent 
or  right  for  you  to  return  there,  while  the  United  States,. 
troops  occupy  that  country.  I  have  gone  over  all  this 
ground  before,  and  have  just  written  to  Cousin  Anna 
on  the  subject. 

"While  writing,   I  received  a  telegram  from  Cousin 
John  Goldsborough*,  urging  your  departure  'South.'     I 
*  A  cousin  of  Mrs.  Fitzhugh. 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  33 

suppose  he  is  impressed  with  the  risk  of  your  present 
position,  and  in  addition  to  the  possibility,  or  probability, 
of  personal  annoyance  to  yourself,  I  fear  your  presence 
may  provoke  annoyance  to  Cousin  Anna.  But  unless 
Cousin  Anna  goes  with  you,  I  shall  be  distressed  about 
her  being  there  alone.  If  the  girls  went  to  '  Kinloch '  or 
'Eastern  View,'  you  and  Cousin  Anna  might  take  care 
of  yourselves,  because  you  could  get  in  the  carriage  and 
go  off  in  an  emergency.  But  I  really  am  afraid  that  you 
may  prove  more  harm  than  comfort  to  her.  Mr.  Wm.  C. 
Rives  has  just  been  in  to  say  that  if  you  and  Cousin  Anna 
will  go  to  his  house,  he  will  be  very  glad  for  you  to  stay 
as  long  as  you  please.  That  his  son  has  a  commodious 
house  just  opposite  his,  unoccupied,  partially  furnished; 
that  you  could,  if  you  prefer,  take  that,  bring  up  servants 
and  what  you  desire,  and  remain  there  as  independent  as 
at  home.  ...  I  must  now  leave  the  matter  to  you, 
and  pray  that  God  may  guard  you.  I  have  no  time  for 
more.  I  know  and  feel  the  discomfort  of  your  position, 
but  it  cannot  be  helped,  and  we  must  bear  our  trials  like 
Christians.  ...  If  you  and  Cousin  Anna  choose  to 
come  here,  you  know  how  happy  we  shall  be  to  see  you. 
I  shall  take  the  field  as  soon  now  as  I  can.  .  .  . 
"  Ever  yours  truly  and  devotedly, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Three  days  later  he  was  at  Manassas,  only  a  short  dis 
tance  from  Ravens  worth,  and  he  sent  her  this  short  note : 

"MANASSAS,  May  28,  1861. 

"  I  reached  here,  dearest  Mary,  this  afternoon.  I  am 
very  much  occupied  in  examining  matters,  and  have  to 
go  out  to  look  over  the  ground.  Cousin  John  tempts  me 
strongly  to  go  down,  but  I  never  visit  for  many  reasons. 
If  for  no  other,  to  prevent  compromising  the  house,  for 
my  visit  would  certainly  be  known. 

"I  have  written  to  you  fully  and  to  Cousin  Anna.  I 
am  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  better  for 


34         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

you  to  leave,  on  your  account  and  Cousin  Anna's.  My 
only  objection  is  the  leaving  Cousin  Anna  alone,  if  she 
will  not  go  with  you.  If  you  prefer  Richmond,  go  with 
Nannie.  Otherwise,  go  to  the  upper  country,  as  John 
indicates.  I  fear  I  cannot  be  with  you  anywhere.  I  do 
not  think  Richmond  will  be  permanent. 

"Truly,  R." 

I  may  as  well  say  here,  that  "  Cousin  Anna"  never  did 
leave  "  Ravensworth  "  during  the  war.  She  remained 
there,  with  only  a  few  faithful  servants,  and  managed  to 
escape  any  serious  molestation.  "  Nannie  "  was  Mrs.  S.  S. 
Lee,  who  shortly  after  this  time  went  to  Richmond. 

On  May  2  5th  my  father  was  transferred,  with  all  the 
Virginia  troops,  to  the  Confederate  States  Army.  He 
ceased  to  be  a  Major-General,  and  became  a  Brigadier,  no 
higher  rank  having  been  created  as  yet  in  the  Confederate 
service.  Later,  when  the  rank  was  created,  he  was  made 
a  full  general. 

By  the  end  of  May,  to  quote  from  General  Long, 

"Lee  had  organised,  equipped,  and  sent  to  the  field 
more  than  thirty  thousand  men,  and  various  regiments 
were  in  a  forward  state  of  preparation." 

When  the  Confederate  government  moved  from  Mont 
gomery  to  Richmond,  and  President  Davis  took  charge 
of  all  military  movements,  my  father  was  kept  near  him 
as  his  constant  and  trusted  adviser.  His  experience  as 
an  engineer  was  of  great  service  to  the  young  Confederacy, 
and  he  was  called  upon  often  for  advice  for  the  location  of 
batteries  and  troops  on  our  different  defensive  lines.  In 
a  letter  to  my  mother  he  speaks  of  one  of  these  trips  to 
the  waters  east  of  Richmond. 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  35 

"RICHMOND,  June  9,  1861. 

".  .  .  I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  the  bat 
teries  and  troops  on  James  and  York  rivers,  etc.,  where 
I  was  some  days.  I  called  a  few  hours  at  the  White 
House.  Saw  Charlotte  and  Annie.  Fitzhugh  was  away, 
but  got  out  of  the  cars  as  I  got  in.  Our  little  boy  looked 
very  sweet  and  seemed  glad  to  kiss  me  a  good-bye.  Char 
lotte  said  she  was  going  to  prepare  to  leave  for  the  sum 
mer,  but  had  not  determined  where  to  go.  I  could  only 
see  some  of  the  servants  about  the  house  and  the  stables. 
They  were  all  well.  .  .  .  You  may  be  aware  that 
the  Confederate  Government  is  established  here.  Yes 
terday  I  turned  over  to  it  the  command  of  the  military 
and  naval  forces  of  the  State,  in  accordance  with  the 
proclamation  of  the  Government  and  the  agreement 
between  the  State  and  the  Confederate  States.  I  do  not 
know  what  my  position  will  be.  I  should  like  to  retire  to 
private  life,  if  I  could  be  with  you  and  the  children,  but 
if  I  can  be  of  any  service  to  the  State  or  her  cause  I  must 
continue.  Mr.  Davis  and  all  his  Cabinet  are  here. 
Good-bye.  Give  much  love  to  kind  friends.  May  God 
guard  and  bless  you,  them,  and  our  suffering  country,  and  \ 
enable  me  to  perform  my  duty.  I  think  of  you  con-"" 
stantly.  Write  me  what  you  will  do.  Direct  here. 

"Always  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

To  my  mother,  who  was  now  in  Fauquier  County, 
staying  at  "Kinloch,"  Mr.  Edward  Turner's  home,  he 
writes  on  June  24th,  from  Richmond: 

".     .     .     Your  future  arrangements  are  the  source  of  / 
much  anxiety  to  me.     No  one  can  say  what  is  in  the 
future,  nor  is  it  wise  to  anticipate  evil.     But  it  is  well  to 
prepare  for  what  may  reasonably  happen  and  be  provided  j 
for  the  worst.     There  is  no  saying  when  you  can  return 
to  your  home  or  what  may  be  its  condition  when  you  do 
return.     What,  then,  can  you  do  in  the  meantime  ?    To 


36         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

remain  with  friends  may  be  incumbent,  and  where  can  you 
go?  .  .  .  My  movements  are  very  uncertain,  and  I 
wish  to  take  the  field  as  soon  as  certain  arrangements  can 
be  made.  I  may  go  at  any  moment,  and  to  any  point 
where  it  may  be  necessary.  .  .  .  Many  of  our  old 
friends  are  dropping  in.  E.  P.  Alexander  is  here,  Jimmy 
Hill,  Alston,  Jenifer,  etc.,  and  I  hear  that  my  old 
colonel,  A.  S.  Johnston,  is  crossing  the  plains  from 
California.  .  .  . 

"As  ever,  R.  E.  LEE." 

I  again  quote  from  a  letter  to  my  mother,  dated 
Richmond,  July  12,  1861: 

".  .  .  I  am  very  anxious  to  get  into  the  field,  but 
am  detained  by  matters  beyond  my  control.  I  have 
never  heard  of  the  appointment,  to  which  you  allude,  of 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Confederate  States  Army,  nor 
have  I  any  expectation  or  wish  for  it.  President  Davis 
holds  that  position.  Since  the  transfer  of  the  military 
operations  in  Virginia  to  the  authorities  of  the  Confederate 
States,  I  have  only  occupied  the  position  of  a  general  in 
that  service,  with  the  duties  devolved  on  me  by  the  Presi 
dent.  I  have  been  labouring  to  prepare  and  get  into  the 
field  the  Virginia  troops,  and  to  strengthen,  by  those  from 
the  other  States,  the  threatened  commands  of  Johnston, 
Beauregard,  Huger,  Garnett,  etc.  Where  I  shall  go  I  do 
not  know,  as  that  will  depend  upon  President  Davis.  As 
usual  in  getting  through  with  a  thing,  I  have  broken 
down  a  little  and  had  to  take  my  bed  last  evening,  but 
am  at  my  office  this  morning  and  hope  will  soon  be  right 
again.  .  .  .  My  young  friend  Mr.  Vest  has  just 
returned  from  a  search  in  the  city  for  '  Dixie,'  and  says  he 
has  visited  every  place  in  Richmond  without  finding  it. 
I  suppose  it  is  exhausted.  Always  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

"  The  booksellers  say  '  Dixie '  is  not  to  be  had  in  Vir 
ginia.  R.  E.  L." 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  37 

On  July  2ist  occurred  the  battle  of  Manassas.  In  a 
letter  to  my  mother  written  on  the  2  yth,  my  father  says : 

".  .  .  That  indeed  was  a  glorious  victory  and  has 
lightened  the  pressure  upon  our  front  amazingly.  Do 
not  grieve  for  the  brave  dead.  Sorrow  for  those  they  left 
behind — friends,  relatives,  and  families.  The  former  are 
at  rest.  The  latter  must  suffer.  The  battle  will  be 
repeated  there  in  greater  force.  I  hope  God  will  again 
smile  on  us  and  strengthen  our  hearts  and  arms.  I 
wished  to  partake  in  the  former  struggle,  and  am  mor 
tified  at  my  absence,  but  the  President  thought  it  more 
important  I  should  be  here.  I  could  not  have  done  as 
well  as  has  been  done,  but  I  could  have  helped,  and  taken 
part  in  the  struggle  for  my  home  and  neighbourhood. 
So  the  work  is  done  I  care  not  by  whom  it  is  done.  I 
leave  to-morrow  for  the  Northwest  Army.  I  wished  to 
go  before,  as  I  wrote  you,  and  was  all  prepared,  but  the 
indications  were  so  evident  of  the  coming  battle,  and  in 
the  uncertainty  of  the  result,  the  President  forbade  my 
departure.  Now  it  is  necessary  and  he  consents.  I  can 
not  say  for  how  long,  but  will  write  you.  ...  I  in 
close  you  a  letter  from  Markie.*  Write  to  her  if  you  can 
and  thank  her  for  her  letter  to  me.  I  have  not  time. 
My  whole  time  is  occupied,  and  all  my  thoughts  and 
strength  are  given  to  the  cause  to  which  my  life,  be  it  long 
or  short,  will  be  devoted.  Tell  her  not  to  mind  the 
reports  she  sees  in  the  papers.  They  are  made  to  injure 
and  occasion  distrust.  Those  that  know  me  will  not 
believe  them.  Those  that  do  not  will  not  care  for  them. 
I  laugh  at  them.  Give  love  to  all,  and  for  yourself 
accept  the  constant  prayers  and  love  of  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

It  was  thought  best  at  this  time  to  send  General  Lee  to 
take  command  of  military  operations  in  West  Virginia. 

*Miss  Martha  Custis  Williams — second  cousin  of  my  mother,  after 
ward  Mrs.  Admiral  Carter,  U.  S.  N. 


38         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

The  ordinary  difficulties  of  a  campaign  in  this  country  of 
mountains  and  bad  roads  were  greatly  increased  by 
incessant  rains,  sickness  of  all  kinds  amongst  the  new 
troops,  and  the  hostility  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  to 
the  Southern  cause.  My  father's  letters,  which  I  will  give 
here,  tell  of  his  trials  and  troubles,  and  describe  at  the 
same  time  the  beauty  of  scenery  and  some  of  the  military 
movements. 

About  August  ist  he  started  for  his  new  command^ 
and  he  writes  to  my  mother  on  his  arrival  at  Hunters- 
ville,  Pocahontas  County,  now  West  Virginia: 

"  HUNTERSVILLE,    August    4,    l86l. 

"I  reached  here  yesterday,  dearest  Mary,  to  visit  this 
portion  of  the  army.  The  day  after  my  arrival  at  Staun- 
ton,  I  set  off  for  Monterey,  where  the  army  of  General 
Garnett's  command  is  stationed.  Two  regiments  and  a 
field-battery  occupy  the  Alleghany  Mountains  in  advance, 
about  thirty  miles,  and  this  division  guards  the  road  to 
Staunton.  The  division  here  guards  the  road  leading  by 
the  Warm  Springs  to  Milboro  and  Covington.  Two 
regiments  are  advanced  about  twenty-eight  miles  to  Mid 
dle  Mountain.  Fitzhugh*  with  his  squadron  is  between 
that  point  and  this.  I  have  not  seen  him.  I  understand 
he  is  well.  South  of  here  again  is  another  column  of  our 
enemies,  making  their  way  up  the  Kanawha  Valley,  and, 
from  General  Wise's  report,  are  not  far  from  Lewisburgh. 
Their  object  seems  to  be  to  get  possession  of  the  Virginia 
Central  Railroad  and  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Rail 
road.  By  the  first  they  can  approach  Richmond ;  by  the 
last  interrupt  our  reinforcements  from  the  South.  The 
points  from  which  we  can  be  attacked  are  numerous,  and 
their  means  are  unlimited.  So  we  must  always  be  on  the 
alert.  My  uneasiness  on  these  points  brought  me  out 
here.  It  is  so  difficult  to  get  our  people,  unaccustomed 
to  the  necessities  of  war,  to  comprehend  and  promptly 

*  Major  W.  H.  F.  Lee — General  Lee's  second  son. 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  39 

execute  the  measures  required  for  the  occasion.  General 
Jackson  of  Georgia  commands  on  the  Monterey  line,  Gen 
eral  Loring  on  this  line,  and  General  Wise,  supported  by 
General  Floyd,  on  the  Kanawha  line.  The  soldiers  every 
where  are  sick.  The  measles  are  prevalent  throughout 
the  whole  army,  and  you  know  that  disease  leaves  unpleas 
ant  results,  attacks  on  the  lungs,  typhoid,  etc.,  especially 
in  camp,  where  accommodations  for  the  sick  are  poor.  I 
travelled  from  Staunton  on  horseback.  A  part  of  the 
road,  as  far  as  Buffalo  Gap,  I  passed  over  in  the  summer 
of  1840,  on  my  return  to  St.  Louis,  after  bringing  you 
home.  If  any  one  had  then  told  me  that  the  next  time 
I  travelled  that  road  would  have  been  on  my  present 
errand,  I  should  have  supposed  him  insane.  I  enjoyed 
the  mountains,  as  I  rode  along.  The  views  are  magnifi 
cent — the  valleys  so  beautiful,  the  scenery  so  peaceful. 
What  a  glorious  world  Almighty  God  has  given  us.  How 
thankless  and  ungrateful  we  are,  and  how  we  labour  to 
mar  his  gifts.  I  hope  you  received  my  letters  from  Rich 
mond.  Give  love  to  daughter  and  Mildred.  I  did  not 
see  Rob  as  I  passed  through  Charlottesville.  He  was  at 
the  University  and  I  could  not  stop." 

A  few  days  later  there  is  another  letter : 

"CAMP  AT  VALLEY  MOUNTAIN,  August  9,  1861. 

"  I  have  been  here,  dear  Mary,  three  days,  coming  from 
Monterey  to  Hunters ville  and  thence  here.  We  are  on 
the  dividing  ridge  looking  north  down  the  Tygart's  river 
valley,  whose  waters  flow  into  the  Monongahela  and  South 
towards  the  Elk  River  and  Greenbrier,  flowing  into  the 
Kanawha.  In  the  valley  north  of  us  lie  Huttons ville 
and  Beverly,  occupied  by  our  invaders,  and  the  Rich 
Mountains  west,  the  scene  of  our  former  disaster,  and  the 
Cheat  Mountains  east,  their  present  stronghold,  are  in 
full  view. 

"The  mountains  are  beautiful,  fertile  to  the  tops,  cov 
ered  with  the  richest  sward  of  bluegrass  and  white  clover, 
the  inclosed  fields  waving  with  the  natural  growth  of 


40         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

timothy.  The  habitations  are  few  and  population  sparse. 
This  is  a  magnificent  grazing  country,  and  all  it  needs  is 
labour  to  clear  the  mountain-sides  of  its  great  growth  of 
timber.  There  surely  is  no  lack  of  moisture  at  this  time. 
It  has  rained,  I  believe,  some  portion  of  every  day  since  I 
left  Staunton.  Now  it  is  pouring,  and  the  wind,  having 
veered  around  to  every  point  of  the  compass,  has  settled 
down  to  the  northeast.  What  that  portends  in  these 
regions  I  do  not  know.  Colonel  Washington*,  Captain 
Taylor,  and  myself  are  in  one  tent,  which  as  yet  protects 
us.  I  have  enjoyed  the  company  of  Fitzhugh  since  I  have 
been  here.  He  is  very  well  and  very  active,  and  as  yet 
the  war  has  not  reduced  him  much.  He  dined  with  me 
yesterday  and  preserves  his  fine  appetite.  To-day  he  is 
out  reconnoitring  and  has  the  full  benefit  of  this  rain.  I 
fear  he  is  without  his  overcoat,  as  I  do  not  recollect  seeing 
it  on  his  saddle.  I  told  you  he  had  been  promoted  to  a 
major  in  cavalry,  and  is  the  commanding  cavalry  officer 
on  this  line  at  present.  He  is  as  sanguine,  cheerful,  and 
hearty  as  ever.  I  sent  him  some  corn-meal  this  morning 
and  he  sent  me  some  butter — a  mutual  interchange  of 
good  things.  There  are  but  few  of  your  acquaintances  in 
this  army.  I  find  here  in  the  ranks  of  one  company 
Henry  Tiffany.  The  company  is  composed  principally  of 
Baltimoreans — George  Lemmon  and  Douglas  Mercer  are 
in  it.  It  is  a  very  fine  company,  well  drilled  and  well 
instructed.  I  find  that  our  old  friend,  J.  J.  Reynolds,  of 
West  Point  memory,  is  in  command  of  the  troops  imme 
diately  in  front  of  us.  He  is  a  brigadier-general.  You 
may  recollect  him  as  the  Assistant  Professor  of  Philosophy, 
and  lived  in  the  cottage  beyond  the  west  gate,  with  his 
little,  pale-faced  wife,  a  great  friend  of  Lawrence  and 
Markie.  He  resigned  on  being  relieved  from  West  Point, 
and  was  made  professor  of  some  college  in  the  West. 
Fitzhugh  was  the  bearer  of  a  flag  the  other  day,  and  he 
recognised  him.  He  was  very  polite  and  made  kind 
inquiries  of  us  all.  I  am  told  they  feel  very  safe  and  are 

*  John  Augustin  Washington,  great-nephew  of  General  Washington, 
and  Mt.  Vernon's  last  owner  bearing  the  name. 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  41 

very  confident  of  success.  Their  numbers  are  said  to  be 
large,  ranging  from  12,000  to  30,000,  but  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  get  correct  information  either  as  to  their  strength 
or  position.  Our  citizens  beyond  this  are  all  on  their  side. 
Our  movements  seem  to  be  rapidly  communicated  to 
them,  while  theirs  come  to  us  slowly  and  indistinctly.  I 
have  two  regiments  here,  with  others  coming  up.  I  think 
we  shall  shut  up  this  road  to  the  Central  Railroad  which 
they  strongly  threaten.  Our  supplies  come  up  slowly. 
We  have  plenty  of  beef  and  can  get  some  bread.  I  hope 
you  are  well  and  are  content.  I  have  heard  nothing  of 
you  or  the  children  since  I  left  Richmond.  You  must 
write  there.  .  .  .  The  men  are  suffering  from  the 
measles,  etc.,  as  elsewhere,  but  are  cheerful  and  light- 
hearted.  The  atmosphere,  when  it  is  not  raining,  is 
delightful.  You  must  give  much  love  to  daughter  and 
'  Life. '  *  I  want  to  see  you  all  very  much,  but  I  know  not 
when  that  can  be.  May  God  guard  and  protect  you  all. 
In  Him  alone  is  our  hope.  Remember  me  to  Nedf  and 
all  at  'Kinloch'  and  Avenel.t  Send  word  to  Miss  Lou 
Washington  §  that  her  father  is  sitting  on  his  blanket 
sewing  the  strap  on  his  haversack.  I  think  she  ought  to 
be  here  to  do  it.  Always  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

In  a  letter  to  his  two  daughters  who  were  in  Richmond, 
he  writes: 

"VALLEY  MOUNTAIN,  August  29,  1861. 
"  My  Precious  Daughters:  I  have  just  received  your  let 
ters  of  the  24th  and  am  rejoiced  to  hear  that  you  are  well 
and  enjoying  the  company  of  your  friends.  ...  It 
rains  here  all  the  time,  literally.  There  has  not  been  sun 
shine  enough  since  my  arrival  to  dry  my  clothes.  Perry  || 

*  Pet  names  for  his  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Mildred. 

f  Mr.  Edward  Carter  Turner,  of  Kinloch,  my  father's  cousin. 

J  "  Avenel,"  the  house  of  the  Berbeleys,  in  Fauquier  County. 

§  Eldest  daughter  of  John  Augustin  Washington. 

U  His  servant — had  been  in  the  dining-room  at  Arlington. 


42         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

is  my  washerman,  and  socks  and  towels  suffer.  But  the 
worst  of  the  rain  is  that  the  ground  has  become  so  satu 
rated  with  water  that  the  constant  travel  on  the  roads 
has  made  them  almost  impassable,  so  that  I  cannot  get 
up  sufficient  supplies  for  the  troops  to  move.  It  is  raining 
now.  Has  been  all  day,  last  night,  day  before,  and  day 
before  that,  etc.,  etc.  But  we  must  be  patient.  It  is  quite 
cool,  too.  I  have  on  all  my  winter  clothes  and  am  writing 
in  my  overcoat.  All  the  clouds  seem  to  concentrate  over 
this  ridge  of  mountains,  and  by  whatever  wind  they  are 
driven,  give  us  rain.  The  mountains  are  magnificent. 
The  sugar-maples  are  beginning  to  turn  already,  and  the 
grass  is  luxuriant. 

"'Richmond'*  has  not  been  accustomed  to  such  fare 
or  such  treatment.  But  he  gets  along  tolerably,  com 
plains  some,  and  has  not  much  superfluous  flesh.  There 
has  been  much  sickness  among  the  men — measles,  etc. — 
and  the  weather  has  been  unfavourable.  I  hope  their 
attacks  are  nearly  over,  and  that  they  will  come  out  with 
the  sun.  Our  party  has  kept  well.  .  .  .  Although 
we  may  be  too  weak  to  break  through  the  lines,  I  feel  well 
satisfied  that  the  enemy  cannot  at  present  reach  Rich 
mond  by  either  of  these  routes,  leading  to  Staunton,  Mil- 
borough  or  Covington.  He  must  find  some  other  way. 
.  .  .  God  bless  you,  my  children,  and  preserve  you 
from  all  harm  is  the  constant  prayer  of 

"  Your  devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

On  account  of  rheumatism,  my  mother  was  anxious  to 
go  to  the  Hot  Springs  in  Bath  County.  She  was  now 
staying  at  "Audley,"  Clarke  County,  Virginia,  with  Mrs. 
Lorenzo  Lewis,  who  had  just  sent  her  six  sons  into  the 
army.  Bath  County  was  not  very  far  from  the  seat  of 
war  in  western  Virginia,  and  my  father  was  asked  as  to 
the  safety  of  the  Hot  Springs  from  occupation  by  the 
enemy.  He  writes  as  follows  to  my  mother : 

*  His  horse. 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  43 

"VALLEY  MOUNTAIN,  September  i,  1861. 

"I  have  received,  dearest  Mary,  your  letter  of  August 
1 8th  from  Audley,  and  am  very  glad  to  get  news  of  your 
whereabouts.  ...  I  am  very  glad  you  are  enabled 
to  see  so  many  of  your  friends.  I  hope  you  have  found 
all  well  in  your  tour,  and  am  very  glad  that  our  cousin 
Esther  bears  the  separation  from  all  her  sons  so  bravely. 
I  have  no  doubt  they  will  do  good  service  in  our  Southern 
cause,  and  wish  they  could  be  placed  according  to  their 
fancies.  ...  I  fear  you  have  postponed  your  visit 
to  the  Hot  too  late.  It  must  be  quite  cold  there  now, 
judging  from  the  temperature  here,  and  it  has  been  raining 
in  these  mountains  since  July  24th.  .  .  .  I  see  Fitz- 
hugh  quite  often,  though  he  is  encamped  four  miles  from 
me.  He  is  very  well  and  not  at  all  harmed  by  the  cam 
paign. 

"We  have  a  great  deal  of  sickness  among  the  soldiers, 
and  now  those  on  the  sick-list  would  form  an  army.  The 
measles  is  still  among  them,  though  I  hope  it  is  dying 
out.  But  it  is  a  disease  which  though  light  in  childhood 
is  severe  in  manhood,  and  prepares  the  system  for  other 
attacks.  The  constant  cold  rains,  with  no  shelter  but 
tents,  have  aggravated  it.  All  these  drawbacks,  with 
impassable  roads,  have  paralysed  our  efforts.  Still  I  think 
you  will  be  safe  at  the  Hot,  for  the  present.  We  are  right 
up  to  the  enemy  on  the  three  lines,  and  in  the  Kanawha 
he  has  been  pushed  beyond  the  Gauley.  .  .  .  My 
poor  little  Rob  I  never  hear  from  scarcely.  He  is  busy,  I 
suppose,  and  knows  not  where  to  direct. 
"With  much  affection, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

From  the  same  camp,  to  my  mother,  on  September  pth: 

".  .  .  I  hope  from  the  tone  of  your  letter  that  you 
feel  better,  and  wish  I  could  see  you  and  be  with  you.  I 
trust  we  may  meet  this  fall  somewhere,  if  only  for  a  little 
time.  I  have  written  to  Robert  telling  him  if,  after  con- 


44         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

sidering  what  I  have  previously  said  to  him  on  the  sub 
ject  of  his  joining  the  company  he  desires  under  Major 
Ross,  he  still  thinks  it  best  for  him  to  do  so,  I  will  not 
withhold  my  consent.  It  seems  he  will  be  eighteen;  I 
thought  seventeen.  I  am  unable  to  judge  for  him  and 
he  must  decide  for  himself.  In  reply  to  a  recent  letter 
from  him  to  me  on  the  same  subject,  I  said  to  him  all  I 
could.  I  pray  God  to  bring  him  to  a  right  conclusion. 
.  .  .  For  military  news,  I  must  refer  you  to  the  papers. 
You  will  see  there  more  than  ever  occurs,  and  what  does 
occur  the  relation  must  be  taken  with  some  allowance. 
Do  not  believe  anything  you  see  about  me.  There  has 
been  no  battle,  only  skirmishing  with  the  outposts,  and 
nothing  done  of  any  moment.  The  weather  is  still 
unfavourable  to  us.  The  roads,  or  rather  tracks  of  mud, 
are  almost  impassable  and  the  number  of  sick  large.  .  .  . 
"  Truly  and  devotedly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


My  mother  was  at  the  Hot  Springs — I  had  taken  her 
there  and  was  with  her.  I  don't  now  remember  why, 
but  it  was  decided  that  I  should  return  to  the  University 
of  Virginia,  which  opened  October  ist,  and  continue 
my  course  there.  While  at  the  Springs  my  mother 
received  this  letter  from  my  father: 

"VALLEY  MOUNT,  September  17,  1861. 
"I  received,  dear  Mary,  your  letter  of  the  5th  by 
Beverly  Turner,*  who  is  a  nice  young  soldier.  I  am 
pained  to  see  fine  young  men  like  him,  of  education  and 
standing,  from  all  the  old  and  respectable  families  in 
the  State,  serving  in  the  ranks.  I  hope  in  time  they  will 
receive  their  reward.  I  met  him  as  I  was  returning  from 
an  expedition  to  the  enemy's  works,  which  I  had  hoped 
to  have  surprised  on  the  morning  of  the  i2th,  both  at 
Cheat  Mountain  and  on  Valley  River.  All  the  attacking 

*  A  son  of  Mr.  Edward  Turner,  of  "  Kinloch." 


THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  45 

parties  with  great  labour  had  reached  their  destination, 
over  mountains  considered  impassable  to  bodies  of  troops, 
notwithstanding  a  heavy  storm  that  set  in  the  day  before 
and  raged  all  night,  in  which  they  had  to  stand  up  till 
daylight.  Their  arms  were  then  unserviceable,  and  they 
in  poor  condition  for  a  fierce  assault  against  artillery 
and  superior  numbers.  After  waiting  till  10  o'clock  for 
the  assault  on  Cheat  Mountain,  which  did  not  take  place, 
and  which  was  to  have  been  the  signal  for  the  rest,  they 
were  withdrawn,  and,  after  waiting  three  days  in  front 
of  the  enemy,  hoping  he  would  come  out  of  his  trenches, 
we  returned  to  our  position  at  this  place.  I  can  not"] 
tell  you  my  regret  and  mortification  at  the  untoward 
events  that  caused  the  failure  of  the  plan.  I  had  taken 
every  precaution  to  ensure  success  and  counted  on  it. 
But  the  Ruler  of  the  Universe  willed  otherwise  and  sent 
a  storm  to  disconcert  a  well-laid  plan,  and  to  destroy 
my  hopes.  We  are  no  worse  off  now  than  before,  except 
the  disclosure  of  our  plan,  against  which  they  will  guard. 
We  met  with  one  heavy  loss  which  grieves  me  deeply: 
Colonel  Washington  accompanied  Fitzhugh  on  a  recon- 
noitering  expedition,  and  I  fear  they  were  carried  away 
by  their  zeal  and  approached  within  the  enemy's  pickets. 
The  first  they  knew  was  a  volley  from  a  concealed  party 
within  a  few  yards  of  them.  Their  balls  passed  through 
the  Colonel's  body,  then  struck  Fitzhugh's  horse,  and  the 
horse  of  one  of  the  men  was  killed.  Fitzhugh  mounted 
the  Colonel's  horse  and  brought  him  off.  I  am  much 
grieved.  He  was  always  anxious  to  go  on  these  expe 
ditions.  This  was  the  first  day  I  assented.  Since  I  had 
been  thrown  into  such  intimate  relations  with  him,  I 
had  learned  to  appreciate  him  very  highly.  Morning 
and  evening  have  I  seen  him  on  his  knees  praying  to 
his  Maker. 

"  'The  righteous  perisheth  and  no  man  layeth  it  to 
heart,  and  merciful  men  are  taken  away,  none  consider 
ing  that  the  righteous  is  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come. ' 
May  God  have  mercy  on  us  all !  I  suppose  you  are  at 


46         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  Hot  Springs  and  will  direct  to  you  there.  Our  poor 
sick,  I  know,  suffer  much.  They  bring  it  on  themselves 
by  not  doing  what  they  are  told.  They  are  worse  than 
children,  for  the  latter  can  be  forced. 

"Truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

On  the  same  day  he  wrote  to  the  Governor  of  Virginia : 

"  VALLEY  MOUNTAIN,  September  17,  1861. 
"  My  Dear  Governor:  I  received  your  very  kind  note 
of  the  5th  instant,  just  as  I  was  about  to  accompany 
General  Loring's  command  on  an  expedition  to  the  enemy's 
works  in  front,  or  I  would  have  before  thanked  you  for 
the  interest  you  take  in  my  welfare,  and  your  too  flatter 
ing  expressions  of  my  ability.  Indeed,  you  overrate 
me  much,  and  I  feel  humbled  when  I  weigh  myself  by 
your  standard.  I  am,  however,  very  grateful  for  your 
confidence,  and  I  can  answer  for  my  sincerity  in  the 
earnest  endeavour  I  make  to  advance  the  cause  I  have  so 
much  at  heart,  though  conscious  of  the  slow  progress  I 
make.  I  was  very  sanguine  of  taking  the  enemy's 
works  on  last  Thursday  morning.  I  had  considered  the 
subject  well.  With  great  effort  the  troops  intended 
for  the  surprise  had  reached  their  destination,  having 
traversed  twenty  miles  of  steep,  rugged  mountain  paths; 
and  the  last  day  through  a  terrible  storm,  which  lasted 
all  night,  and  in  which  they  had  to  stand  drenched  to 
the  skin  in  cold  rain.  Still,  their  spirits  were  good. 
When  morning  broke,  I  could  see  the  enemy's  tents  on 
Valley  River,  at  the  point  on  the  Huttonsville  road 
just  below  me.  It  was  a  tempting  sight.  We  waited 
for  the  attack  on  Cheat  Mountain,  which  was  to  be  the 
signal.  Till  10  A.  M.  the  men  were  cleaning  their  un 
serviceable  arms.  But  the  signal  did  not  come.  All 
chance  for  a  surprise  was  gone.  The  provisions  of  the 
men  had  been  destroyed  the  preceding  day  by  the  storm. 
They  had  nothing  to  eat  that  morning,  could  not  hold 


FEDERATE  GENERAL  47 


out  another  day,  and  were  obliged  to  be  withdrawn. 
The  party  sent  to  Cheat  Mountain  to  take  that  in  rear 
had  also  to  be  withdrawn.  The  attack  to  come  off  from 
the  east  side  failed  from  the  difficulties  in  the  way;  the 
opportunity  was  lost,  and  our  plan  discovered.  It  is  a 
grievous  disappointment  to  me,  I  assure  you.  But  for 
the  rain-storm,  I  have  no  doubt  it  would  have  succeeded. 
This,  Governor,  is  for  your  own  eye.  Please  do  not 
speak  of  it ;  we  must  try  again.  Our  greatest  loss  is  the 
death  of  my  dear  friend,  Colonel  Washington.  He  and 
my  son  were  reconnoitering  the  front  of  the  enemy. 
They  came  unawares  upon  a  concealed  party,  who  fired 
upon  them  within  twenty  yards,  and  the  Colonel  fell 
pierced  by  three  balls.  My  son's  horse  received  three 
shots,  but  he  escaped  on  the  Colonel's  horse.  His  zeal 
for  the  cause  to  which  he  had  devoted  himself  carried 
him,  I  fear,  too  far.  We  took  some  seventy  prisoners, 
and  killed  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  of  the  enemy. 
Our  loss  was  small  besides  what  I  have  mentioned.  Our 
greatest  difficulty  is  the  roads.  It  has  been  raining 
in  these  mountains  about  six  weeks.  It  is  impossible  to 
get  along.  It  is  that  which  has  paralysed  all  our  efforts. 
With  sincere  thanks  for  your  good  wishes, 

"I  am  very  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"His  Excellency,  Governor  John  Letcher." 


CHAPTER  III 
LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS 

FROM    CAMP    ON    SEWELL's    MOUNTAIN — QUOTATION    FROM 

COLONEL  TAYLOR'S  BOOK — FROM  PROFESSOR  WM.  p. 

TRENT — FROM  MR.  DAVIS'S  MEMORIAL  ADDRESS — DE 
FENSE  OF  SOUTHERN  PORTS — CHRISTMAS,  1 86 1 — THE 
GENERAL  VISITS  HIS  FATHER'S  GRAVE — COMMANDS, 
UNDER  THE  PRESIDENT,  ALL  THE  ARMIES  OF  THE 
CONFEDERATE  STATES 

THE  season  being  too  far  advanced  to  attempt  any 
further  movements  away  from  our  base  of  supplies,  and 
the  same  reasons  preventing  any  advance  of  the  Federal 
forces,  the  campaign  in  this  part  of  Virginia  ended  for 
the  winter.  In  the  Kanawha  Valley,  however,  the 
enemy  had  been  and  were  quite  active.  Large  reinforce 
ments  under  General  Rosecrans  were  sent  there  to  assist 
General  Cox,  the  officer  in  command  at  that  point. 
General  Loring,  leaving  a  sufficient  force  to  watch  the 
enemy  at  Cheat  Mountain,  moved  the  rest  of  his  army 
to  join  the  commands  of  Generals  Floyd  and  Wise,  who 
were  opposing  the  advance  of  Cox.  General  Lee,  about 
September  2oth,  reached  General  Floyd's  camp,  and 
immediately  proceeded  to  arrange  the  lines  of  defense. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  there  he  wrote  to  my  mother  at 
the  Hot  Springs: 

"CAMP  ON  SEWELL'S  MOUNTAIN, 

"September  26,  1861. 
"I  have  just  received,  dear  Mary,  your  letters  of  the 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS        49 

1 7th  and  igth  instants,  with  one  from  Robert.  I  have 
but  little  time  for  writing  to-night,  and  will,  therefore, 
write  to  you.  .  .  .  Having  now  disposed  of  business 
matters,  I  will  say  how  glad  I  am  to  hear  from  you,  and 
to  learn  that  you  have  reached  the  Hot  in  safety,  with 
daughter  and  Rob.  I  pray  that  its  healing  waters  may 
benefit  you  all.  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  Charlotte  and  the 
girls,  and  hope  all  will  go  well  with  them.  I  infer  you 
received  my  letter  written  before  leaving  Valley  Moun 
tain,  though  you  did  not  direct  your  letter  'via  Lewisburg, 
Greenbrier  County,'  and  hence  its  delay.  I  told  you  of 
the  death  of  Colonel  Washington.  I  grieve  for  his  loss, 
though  trust  him  to  the  mercy  of  our  Heavenly  Father. 
May  He  have  mercy  on  us  all. 

"It  is  raining  heavily.  The  men  are  all  exposed  on 
the  mountain,  with  the  enemy  opposite  to  us.  We  are 
without  tents,  and  for  two  nights  I  have  lain  buttoned 
up  in  my  overcoat.  To-day  my  tent  came  up  and  I 
am  in  it.  Yet  I  fear  I  shall  not  sleep  for  thinking  of 
the  poor  men.  I  wrote  about  socks  for  myself.  I  have 
no  doubt  the  yarn  ones  you  mention  will  be  very  ac 
ceptable  to  the  men  here  or  elsewhere.  If  you  can  send 
them  here,  I  will  distribute  them  to  the  most  needy. 
Tell  Rob  I  could  not  write  to  him  for  want  of  time. 
My  heart  is  always  with  you  and  my  children.  May 
God  guard  and  bless  you  all  is  the  constant  prayer  of 

"  Your  devoted  husband, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


To  my  mother,  still  at  the  Hot  Springs: 

"SEWELL'S  MOUNTAIN,  October  7,  1861. 
"  I  received,  dear  Mary,  your  letter  by  Doctor  Quin- 
tard,  with  the  cotton  socks.  Both  were  very  acceptable, 
though  the  latter  I  have  not  yet  tried.  At  the  time  of 
their  reception  the  enemy  was  threatening  an  attack, 
which  was  continued  till  Saturday  night,  when  under 
cover  of  darkness  he  suddenly  withdrew.  Your  letter 


50         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

of  the  2d,  with  the  yarn  socks,  four  pairs,  was  handed 
to  me  when  I  was  preparing  to  follow,  and  I  could  not 
at  the  time  attend  to  either.  But  I  have  since,  and  as  I 
found  Perry  in  desperate  need,  I  bestowed  a  couple  of 
pairs  on  him,  as  a  present  from  you.  The  others  I  have 
put  in  my  trunk  and  suppose  they  will  fall  to  the  lot  of 
Meredith,*  into  the  state  of  whose  hose  I  have  not  yet 
inquired.  Should  any  sick  man  require  them  first,  he 
shall  have  them,  but  Meredith  will  have  no  one  near 
to  supply  him  but  me,  and  will  naturally  expect  that 
attention.  I  hope,  dear  Mary,  you  and  daughter,  as 
well  as  poor  little  Rob,  have  derived  some  benefit  from 
the  sanitary  baths  of  the  Hot.  What  does  daughter 
intend  to  do  during  the  winter?  And,  indeed,  what  do 
you?  It  is  time  you  were  determining.  There  is  no 
prospect  of  your  returning  to  Arlington.  I  think  you 
had  better  select  some  comfortable  place  in  the  Carolinas 
or  Georgia,  and  all  board  together.  If  Mildred  goes  to 
school  at  Raleigh,  why  not  go  there  ?  It  is  a  good  oppor 
tunity  to  try  a  warmer  climate  for  your  rheumatism. 
If  I  thought  our  enemies  would  not  make  a  vigorous 
move  against  Richmond,  I  would  recommend  to  rent  a 
house  there.  But  under  these  circumstances  I  would 
not  feel  as  if  you  were  permanently  located  if  there. 
I  am  ignorant  where  I  shall  be.  In  the  field  somewhere, 
I  suspect,  so  I  have  little  hope  of  being  with  you,  though 
I  hope  to  be  able  to  see  you.  ...  I  heard  from  Fitz- 
hugh  the  other  day.  He  is  well,  though  his  command  is 
greatly  reduced  by  sickness.  I  wished  much  to  bring  him 
with  me ;  but  there  is  too  much  cavalry  on  this  line  now, 
and  I  am  dismounting  them.  I  could  not,  therefore, 
order  more.  The  weather  is  almost  as  bad  here  dS  in 
the  mountains  I  left.  There  was  a  drenching  rain 
yesterday,  and  as  I  had  left  my  overcoat  in  camp  I  was 
thoroughly  wet  from  head  to  foot.  It  has  been  raining 
ever  since  and  is  now  coming  down  with  a  will.  But  I 
have  my  clothes  out  on  the  bushes  and  they  will  be  well 
washed. 

*His  cook — a  servant  from  the  White  House. 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       51 

"  The  force  of  the  enemy,  by  a  few  prisoners  captured 
yesterday  and  civilians  on  the  road,  is  put  down  from 
1 7,000  to  20,000.  Some  went  as  high  as  22,000.  General 
Floyd  thinks  18,000.  I  do  not  think  it  exceeds  9,000 
or  10,000,  though  it  exceeds  ours.  I  wish  he  had  attacked 
us,  as  I  believe  he  would  have  been  repulsed  with  great 
loss.  His  plan  was  to  attack  us  at  all  points  at  the  same 
time.  The  rumbling  of  his  wheels,  etc.,  was  heard  by 
our  pickets,  but  as  that  was  customary  at  night  in  the 
moving  and  placing  of  his  cannon,  the  officer  of  the  day 
to  whom  it  was  reported  paid  no  particular  attention 
to  it,  supposing  it  to  be  a  preparation  for  attack  in  the 
morning.  When  day  appeared,  the  bird  had  flown,  and 
the  misfortune  was  that  the  reduced  condition  of  our 
horses  for  want  of  provender,  exposure  to  cold  rains  in 
these  mountains,  and  want  of  provisions  for  the  men 
prevented  the  vigorous  pursuit  and  following  up  that  was 
proper.  We  can  only  get  up  provisions  from  day  to 
day — which  paralyses  our  operations. 

"  I  am  sorry,  as  you  say,  that  the  movements  of  the 
armies  cannot  keep  pace  with  the  expectations  of  the 
editors  of  papers.  I  know  they  can  regulate  matters 
satisfactorily  to  themselves  on  paper.  I  wish  they  could 
do  so  in  the  field.  No  one  wishes  them  more  success 
than  I  do  and  would  be  happy  to  see  them  have  full 
swing.  I  hope  something  will  be  done  to  please  them. 
Give  much  love  to  the  children  and  everybody,  and 
believe  me 

"Always  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Colonel  Taylor,  in  his  "Four  Years  with  General 
Lee,"  says: 

"  We  had  now  reached  the  latter  days  of  October.  The 
lateness  of  the  season  and  the  condition  of  the  roads 
precluded  the  idea  of  earnest,  aggressive  operations,  and 
the  campaign  in  western  Virginia  was  virtually  concluded. 

"Judged  from  its  results,  it  must  be  confessed  that  this 


52         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

series  of  operations  was  a  failure.  At  its  conclusion,  a 
large  portion  of  the  State  was  in  possession  of  the  Federals, 
including  the  rich  valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  Kanawha  rivers, 
and  so  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war.  For  this, 
however,  General  Lee  cannot  reasonably  be  held  account 
able.  Disaster  had  befallen  the  Confederate  arms,  and 
the  worst  had  been  accomplished  before  he  had  reached 
the  theatre  of  operations;  the  Alleghanies  there  consti 
tuted  the  dividing  line  between  the  hostile  forces,  and  in 
this  network  of  mountains,  sterile  and  rendered  absolutely 
impracticable  by  a  prolonged  season  of  rain,  Nature  had 
provided  an  insurmountable  barrier  to  operations  in  this 
transmontane  country.  ...  It  was  doubtless  be 
cause  of  similar  embarrassments  that  the  Federal  general 
retired,  in  the  face  of  inferior  numbers,  to  a  point  near  his 
base  of  supplies. " 

Professor  William  P.  Trent,  in  his  "  Robert  E.  Lee," 
after  describing  briefly  the  movements  of  the  contending 
armies,  writes : 

"There  was,  then,  nothing  to  do  but  to  acknowledge 
the  campaign  a  failure.  The  Confederate  Government 
withdrew  its  troops  and  sent  them  elsewhere.  Lee,  whom 
the  press  abused  and  even  former  friends  began  to  regard 
as  overrated,  was  assigned  to  command  the  Department 
of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida ;  and  her  western 
counties  were  lost  to  the  Old  Dominion  forever.  It  must 
have  been  a  crushing  blow  to  Lee  at  the  time,  but  he  bore 
it  uncomplainingly.  .  .  .  And  when  all  is  said,  no 
commander,  however  great,  can  succeed  against  bad 
roads,  bad  weather,  sickness  of  troops,  lack  of  judgment 
and  harmony  among  subordinates,  and  a  strong,  alert 
enemy.  Yet  this  is  what  Lee  was  expected  to  do." 

Mr.  Davis,  in  an  address  before  a  memorial  meeting  at 
Richmond  in  1870,  speaking  of  General  Lee  in  this  cam 
paign,  said: 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       53 

"  He  came  back,  carrying  the  heavy  weight  of  defeat,  1 
and  unappreciated  by  the  people  whom  he  served,  for  they 
could  not  know,  as  I  knew,  that,  if  his  plans  and  orders 
had  been  carried  out,  the  result  would  have  been  victory 
rather  than  retreat.  You  did  not  know  it ;  for  I  should 
not  have  known  it  had  he  not  breathed  it  in  my  ear  only 
at  my  earnest  request,  and  begging  that  nothing  be  said 
about  it.  The  clamour  which  then  arose  followed  him 
when  he  went  to  South  Carolina,  so  that  it  became  neces 
sary  on  his  departure  to  write  a  letter  to  the  Governor  of 
that  State,  telling  him  what  manner  of  man  he  was.  Yet, 
through  all  this,  with  a  magnanimity  rarely  equalled,  he 
stood  in  silence,  without  defending  himself  or  allowing 
others  to  defend  him,  for  he  was  unwilling  to  offend  any 
one  who  was  wearing  a  sword  and  striking  blows  for  the 
Confederacy." 

After  returning  to  Richmond,  my  father  resumed  his 
position  as  adviser  and  counsellor  to  Mr.  Davis.  From 
there  he  writes  to  my  mother,  who  had  left  the  Hot  Springs 
and  gone  on  a  visit  to  " Shirley,"  on  James  River: 

"RICHMOND,  November  5,  1861. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  received  last  night  your  letter  of  the 
2d,  and  would  have  answered  it  at  once,  but  was  detained 
with  the  Secretary  till  after  n  p.  M.  I  fear  now  I  may 
miss  the  mail.  Saturday  evening  I  tried  to  get  down  to 
you  to  spend  Sunday,  but  could  find  no  government  boat 
going  down,  and  the  passenger  boats  all  go  in  the  morning. 
I  then  went  to  the  stable  and  got  out  my  horse,  but  it  was 
near  night  then  and  I  was  ignorant  both  of  the  road  and 
distance  and  I  gave  it  up.  I  was  obliged  to  be  here  Mon 
day,  and  as  it  would  have  consumed  all  Sunday  to  go 
and  come,  I  have  remained  for  better  times.  The  Presi 
dent  said  I  could  not  go  to-day,  so  I  must  see  what  can 
be  done  to-morrow.  I  will  come,  however,  wherever  you 
are,  either  Shirley  or  the  White  House,  as  soon  as  pos- 


54         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

sible,  and  if  not  sooner,  Saturday  at  all  events.     .     .     . 
I  am,  as  ever,  Yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  day  after  this  letter  was  written,  my  father  was 
ordered  to  South  Carolina  for  the  purpose  of  directing 
and  supervising  the  construction  of  a  line  of  defense  along 
the  southern  coast.  I  give  here  several  letters  to  mem 
bers  of  his  family  which  tell  of  his  duties  and  manner  of 
life: 

"  SAVANNAH,  November  18,  1861. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  This  is  the  first  moment  I  have  had 
to  write  to  you,  and  now  am  waiting  the  call  to  breakfast, 
on  my  way  to  Brunswick,  Fernandina,  etc.  This  is  my 
second  visit  to  Savannah.  Night  before  last,  I  returned 
to  Coosawhatchie,  South  Carolina,  from  Charleston,  where 
I  have  placed  my  headquarters,  and  last  night  came  here, 
arriving  after  midnight.  I  received  in  Charleston  your 
letter  from  Shirley.  It  was  a  grievous  disappointment 
to  me  not  to  have  seen  you,  but  better  times  will  come,  I 
hope.  .  .  .  You  probably  have  seen  the  operations 
of  the  enemy's  fleet.  Since  their  first  attack  they  have 
been  quiescent  apparently,  confining  themselves  to  Hil 
ton  Head,  where  they  are  apparently  fortifying. 

"  I  have  no  time  for  more.     Love  to  all. 

"Yours  very  affectionately  and  truly, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

"CHARLESTON,  November  15,  1861. 
"My  Precious  Daughter:  I  have  received  your  letter 
forwarded  to  Richmond  by  Mr.  Powell,  and  I  also  got, 
while  in  the  West,  the  letter  sent  by  B.  Turner.  I  can 
write  but  seldom,  but  your  letters  always  give  me  great 
pleasure.  I  am  glad  you  had  such  a  pleasant  visit  to 
'Kinloch.'  I  have  passed  a  great  many  pleasant  days 
there  myself  in  my  young  days.  Now  you  must  labour 
at  your  books  and  gain  knowledge  and  wisdom.  Do  not 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS     55 

mind  what  Rob  says.  I  have  a  beautiful  white  beard. 
It  is  much  admired.  At  least,  much  remarked  on.  You 
know  I  have  told  you  not  to  believe  what  the  young  men 
tell  you.  I  was  unable  to  see  your  poor  mother  when  in 
Richmond.  Before  I  could  get  down  I  was  sent  off  here. 
Another  forlorn  hope  expedition.  Worse  than  West 
Virginia.  ...  I  have  much  to  do  in  this  country. 
I  have  been  to  Savannah  and  have  to  go  again.  The 
enemy  is  quiet  after  his  conquest  of  Port  Royal  Harbor 
and  his  whole  fleet  is  lying  there.  May  God  guard  and 
protect  you,  my  dear  child,  prays  your 

1  'Affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  above  letter  was  written  to  his  youngest  daughter, 
Mildred,  who  was  at  school  in  Winchester,  Virginia. 
Two  of  my  sisters  were  in  King  George  County,  Virginia, 
at  "Clydale,"  the  summer  home  of  Dr.  Richard  Stuart, 
with  whose  family  we  had  been  a  long  time  intimate. 
From  there  they  had  driven  to  "  Stratford,"  in  Westmore 
land  County,  about  thirty  miles  distant,  where  my  father 
was  born.  They  had  written  him  of  this  trip,  and  this  is 
his  reply: 

"SAVANNAH,  November  22,  1861. 
"  My  Darling  Daughters:  I  have  just  received  your  joint 
letter  of  October  24th,  from  '  Clydale.'  It  was  very  cheer 
ing  to  me,  and  the  affection  and  sympathy  you  expressed 
were  very  grateful  to  my  feelings.  I  wish  indeed  I  could 
see  you,  be  with  you,  and  never  again  part  from  you. 
God  only  can  give  me  that  happiness.  I  pray  for  it  night 
and  day.  But  my  prayers  I  know  are  not  worthy  to  be 
heard.  I  received  your  former  letter  in  western  Virginia, 
but  had  no  opportunity  to  reply  to  it.  I  enjoyed  it, 
nevertheless.  I  am  glad  you  do  not  wait  to  hear  from 
me,  as  that  would  deprive  me  of  the  pleasure  of  hearing 
from  you  often.  I  am  so  pressed  with  business.  I  am 


56         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

much  pleased  at  your  description  of  Stratford  and  your 
visit.  It  is  endeared  to  me  by  many  recollections, 
and  it  has  been  always  a  great  desire  of  my  life  to  be 
able  to  purchase  it.  Now  that  we  have  no  other  home, 
and  the  one  we  so  loved  has  been  so  foully  polluted, 
the  desire  is  stronger  with  me  than  ever.  The  horse- 
chestnut  you  mention  in  the  garden  was  planted  by  my 
mother.  I  am  sorry  the  vault  is  so  dilapidated.  You 
did  not  mention  the  spring,  one  of  the  objects  of  my 
earliest  recollections.  I  am  very  glad,  my  precious 
Agnes,  that  you  have  become  so  early  a  riser.  It  is  a 
good  habit,  and  in  these  times  for  mighty  works  advan 
tage  should  be  taken  of  every  hour.  I  much  regretted 
being  obliged  to  come  from  Richmond  without  seeing 
your  poor  mother.  .  .  .  This  is  my  second  visit  to 
Savannah.  I  have  been  down  the  coast  to  Amelia 
Island  to  examine  the  defenses.  They  are  poor  indeed, 
and  I  have  laid  off  work  enough  to  employ  our  people  a 
month.  I  hope  our  enemy  will  be  polite  enough  to  wait 
for  us.  It  is  difficult  to  get  our  people  to  realise  their 
position.  .  .  .  Good-bye,  my  dear  daughters. 
"  Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


To  his  daughter  Annie: 

"  COOSAWHATCHIE,  South  Carolina, 

"December  8,    1861. 

"  My  Precious  Annie:  I  have  taken  the  only  quiet  time 
I  have  been  able  to  find  on  this  holy  day  to  thank  you  for 
your  letter  of  the  2pth  ulto.  One  of  the  miseries  of  war  is 
that  there  is  no  Sabbath,  and  the  current  of  work  and 
strife  has  no  cessation.  How  can  we  be  pardoned  for  all 
our  offenses !  I  am  glad  that  you  have  joined  your 
mamma  again  and  that  some  of  you  are  together  at  last. 
It  would  be  a  great  happiness  to  me  were  you  all  at  some 
quiet  place,  remote  from  the  vicissitudes  of  war,  where  I 
could  consider  you  safe.  You  must  have  had  a  pleasant 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       57 

time  at  'Clydale.'     I  hope  indeed  that  *  Cedar  Grove' 
may  be  saved  from  the  ruin  and  pillage  that  other  places 
have  received  at  the  hands  of  our  enemies,  who  are 
pursuing  the  same  course  here  as  they  have  practised 
elsewhere.     Unfortunately,  too,  the  numerous  deep  estu 
aries,  all  accessible  to  their  ships,  expose  the  multitude 
of  islands  to  their  predatory  excursions,  and  what  they 
leave    is   finished  by  the  negroes   whose  masters  have 
deserted  their  plantations,  subject  to  visitations  of  the 
enemy.     I  am  afraid  Cousin  Julia*  will  not  be  able  to 
defend  her  home  if  attacked  by  the  vandals,  for  they  have 
little  respect  for  anybody,  and  if  they  catch  the  Doctor* 
they  will  certainly  send  him  to  Fort  Warren  or  La  Fayette. 
I  fear,  too,  the  Yankees  will  bear  off  their  pretty  daugh 
ters.     I  am  very  glad  you  visited  '  Chatham,  'f     I  was 
there  many  years  ago,  when  it  was  the  residence  of  Judge 
Coulter,  and  some  of  the  avenues  of  poplar,  so  dear  to 
your  grandmama,  still  existed.      I  presume  they  have 
all  gone  now.     The  letter  that  you  and  Agnes  wrote  from 
'  Clydale'  I  replied  to  and  sent  to  that  place.     You  know 
I  never  have  any  news.     I  am  trying  to  get  a  force  to 
make  headway  on  our  defenses,  but  it  comes  in  very 
slow.     The  people  do  not  seem  to  realise  that  there  is  a 
war. 

"  It  is  very  warm  here,  if  that  is  news,  and  as  an  evi 
dence  I  inclose  some  violets  I  plucked  in  the  yard  of  a 
deserted  house  I  occupy.  I  wish  I  could  see  you  and  give 
them  in  person.  .  .  .  Good-bye,  my  precious  child. 
Give  much  love  to  everybody,  and  believe  me, 
"Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E. 


From  the  same  place,  on  December  2d,  he  writes  to 
my  mother: 

"  I  received  last  night,  dear  Mary,  your  letter  of  tht, 
1  2th,  and  am  delighted  to  learn  that  you  are  all  well  and 

*  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Richard  Stuart. 

t  The  home  of  the  Fitzhughs,  where  my  grandmother  Custis  was 

born. 


58         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

so  many  of  you  are  together.  I  am  much  pleased  that 
Fitzhugh  has  an  opportunity  to  be  with  you  all  and  will 
not  be  so  far  removed  from  his  home  in  his  new  field  of 
action.  I  hope  to  see  him  at  the  head  of  a  fine  regiment 
and  that  he  will  be  able  to  do  good  service  in  the  cause  of 
his  country.  If  Mary  and  Rob  get  to  you  Christmas,  you 
will  have  quite  a  family  party,  especially  if  Fitzhugh  is 
not  obliged  to  leave  his  home  and  sweet  wife  before  that 
time.  I  shall  think  of  you  all  on  that  holy  day  more 
intensely  than  usual,  and  shall  pray  to  the  great  God  of 
Heaven  to  shower  His  blessings  upon  you  in  this  world, 
and  to  unite  you  all  in  His  courts  in  the  world  to  come. 
With  a  grateful  heart  I  thank  Him  for  His  preservation 
thus  far,  and  trust  to  His  mercy  and  kindness  for  the 
future.  Oh,  that  I  were  more  worthy,  more  thankful 
for  all  He  has  done  and  continues  to  do  for  me !  Perry 
and  Meredith  *  send  their  respects  to  all.  .  .  . 
"Truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

From  the  same  place,  on  Christmas  Day,  he  writes  to 
my  mother: 

"  I  cannot  let  this  day  of  grateful  rejoicing  pass,  dear 
Mary,  without  some  communication  with  you.  I  am 
thankful  for  the  many  among  the  past  that  I  have  passed 
with  you,  and  the  remembrance  of  them  fills  me  with 
pleasure.  For  those  on  which  we  have  been  separated 
we  must  not  repine.  If  it  will  make  us  more  resigned 
and  better  prepared  for  what  is  in  store  for  us,  we  should 
rejoice.  Now  we  must  be  content  with  the  many  blessings 
we  receive.  If  we  can  only  become  sensible  of  our  trans 
gressions,  so  as  to  be  fully  penitent  and  forgiven,  that  this 
heavy  punishment  under  which  we  labour  may  with  jus 
tice  be  removed  from  us  and  the  whole  nation,  what  a 
gracious  consummation  of  all  that  we  have  endured  it 
will  be ! 

*  His  two  coloured  servants. 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       59 

"  I  hope  you  had  a  pleasant  visit  to  Richmond.  .  .  . 
If  you  were  to  see  this  place,  I  think  you  would  have  it, 
too.  I  am  here  but  little  myself.  The  days  I  am  not 
here  I  visit  some  point  exposed  to  the  enemy,  and  after 
our  dinner  at  early  candle-light,  am  engaged  in  writing 
till  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  .  .  .  As  to  our 
old  home,  if  not  destroyed,  it  will  be  difficult  ever  to  be 
recognised.  Even  if  the  enemy  had  wished  to  preserve 
it,  it  would  almost  have  been  impossible.  With  the 
number  of  troops  encamped  around  it,  the  change  of 
officers,  etc.,  the  want  of  fuel,  shelter,  etc.,  and  all  the  dire 
necessities  of  war,  it  is  vain  to  think  of  its  being  in  a  habit 
able  condition.  I  fear,  too,  books,  furniture,  and  the 
relics  of  Mount  Vernon  will  be  gone.  It  is  better  to  make 
up  our  minds  to  a  general  loss.  They  cannot  take  away 
the  remembrance  of  the  spot,  and  the  memories  of  those 
that  to  us  rendered  it  sacred.  That  will  remain  to  us  as 
long  as  life  will  last,  and  that  we  can  preserve.  In  the 
absence  of  a  home,  I  wish  I  could  purchase  'Stratford.' 
That  is  the  only  other  place  that  I  could  go  to,  now  acces 
sible  to  us,  that  would  inspire  me  with  feelings  of  pleasure 
and  local  love.  You  and  the  girls  could  remain  there  in 
quiet.  It  is  a  poor  place,  but  we  could  make  enough  corn- 
bread  and  bacon  for  our  support,  and  the  girls  could 
weave  us  clothes.  I  wonder  if  it  is  for  sale  and  at  how 
much.  Ask  Fitzhugh  to  try  to  find  out,  when  he  gets  to 
Fredericksburg.  You  must  not  build  your  hopes  on  peace 
on  account  of  the  United  States  going  into  a  war  with 
England.*  She  will  be  very  loath  to  do  that,  notwithstand 
ing  the  bluster  of  the  Northern  papers.  Her  rulers  are 
not  entirely  mad,  and  if  they  find  England  is  in  earnest, 
and  that  war  or  a  restitution  of  their  captives  must  be  the 
consequence,  they  will  adopt  the  latter.  We  must  make 
up  our  minds  to  fight  our  battles  and  win  our  indepen 
dence  alone.  No  one  will  help  us.  We  require  no  extra 
neous  aid,  if  true  to  ourselves.  But  we  must  be  patient. 
It  is  not  a  light  achievement  and  cannot  be  accomplished 

*  On  account  of  the  Trent  affair. 


6o         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

at  once.  ...  I  wrote  a  few  days  since,  giving  you 
all  the  news,  and  have  now  therefore  nothing  to  relate. 
The  enemy  is  still  quiet  and  increasing  in  strength.  We 
grow  in  size  slowly  but  are  working  hard.  I  have  had  a 
day  of  labour  instead  of  rest,  and  have  written  at  intervals 
to  some  of  the  children.  I  hope  they  are  with  you,  and 
inclose  my  letters.  .  .  . 

"Affectionately  and  truly, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

In  the  next  letter  to  my  mother  he  describes  a  visit  to 
the  grave  of  his  father  at  Dungeness,  on  Cumberland 
Island,  Georgia.  Dungeness  was  presented  to  General 
Nathaniel  Green  by  the  State  of  Georgia  for  services  ren 
dered  her  in  the  Revolution.  General  Henry  Lee,  return 
ing  from  the  West  Indies,  where  he  had  been  for  some 
months  on  account  of  his  health,  landed  there,  and  in  a 
few  days  died,  March  15,1818.  He  was  most  kindly  cared 
for  by  the  daughter  of  his  old  commander,  and  was 
buried  there  in  the  garden  of  Dungeness.  At  the  time 
of  my  father's  visit  the  place  belonged  to  a  great -nephew 
of  General  Green,  Mr.  Nightingale. 

"COOSAWHATCHIE,  South  Carolina, 

"January   18,    1862. 

"On  my  return,  day  before  yesterday,  from  Florida, 
dear  Mary,  I  received  your  letter  of  the  ist  inst.  I  am  very 
glad  to  find  that  you  had  a  pleasant  family  meeting 
Christmas,  and  that  it  was  so  large.  I  am  truly  grateful 
for  all  the  mercies  we  enjoy,  notwithstanding  the  miseries 
of  war,  and  join  heartily  in  the  wish  that  the  next  year 
may  find  us  at  peace  with  all  the  world.  I  am  delighted 
to  hear  that  our  little  grandson*  is  improving  so  fast 
and  is  becoming  such  a  perfect  gentleman.  May  his  path 
be  strewn  with  flowers  and  his  life  with  happiness.  I  am 

*  His  first  grandchild — son  of  my  brother  Fitzhugh.  He  died  in 
1863. 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       61 

very  glad  to  hear  also  that  his  dear  papa  is  promoted.     It 
will  be  gratifying  to  him  and  increase,  I  hope,  his  means 
of  usefulness.     Robert  wrote  me  he  saw  him  on  his  way 
through  Charlottes ville  with  his  squadron,  and  that  he 
was  well.     While  at  Fernandina  I  went  over  to  Cumber 
land  Island  and  walked  up  to  'Dungeness,'  the  former 
residence  of  General  Green.     It  was  my  first  visit  to  the 
house,  and  I  had  the  gratification  at  length  of  visiting  my 
father's  grave.     He  died  there,  you  may  recollect,  on  his 
way  from  the  West  Indies,  and  was  interred  in  one  corner 
of  the  family  cemetery.     The  spot  is  marked  by  a  plain 
marble  slab,  with  his  name,  age,  and  date  of  his  death. 
Mrs.  Green  is  also  buried  there,  and  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Shaw,  and  her  husband.     The  place  is  at  present  owned 
by  Mr.  Nightingale,  nephew  of  Mrs.  Shaw,  who  married  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  James  King.     The  family  have  moved 
into  the  interior  of  Georgia,  leaving  only  a  few  servants 
and  a  white  gardener  on  the  place.     The  garden  was 
beautiful,  inclosed  by  the  finest  hedge  I  have  ever  seen. 
It  was  of  the  wild  olive.     The  orange  trees  were  small, 
and  the  orange  grove,  which,  in  Mrs.  Shaw's  lifetime,  dur 
ing  my  tour  of  duty  in  Savannah  in  early  life,  was  so 
productive,  had  been  destroyed  by  an  insect  that  has 
proved  fatal  to  the  orange  on  the  coast  of  Georgia  and 
Florida.     There  was  a  fine  grove  of  olives,  from  which, 
I  learn,  Mr.  Nightingale  procures  oil.     The  garden  was 
filled  with  roses  and  beautiful  vines,  the  names  of  which 
I  do  not  know.     Among  them  was  the  tomato-vine  in  full 
bearing,  with  the  ripe  fruit  on  it.     There  has  yet  been  no 
frost  in  that  region  of  country  this  winter.     I  went  in  the 
dining-room  and  parlour,   in  which  the  furniture  still 
remained.     .     .     .     The  house  has  never  been  finished, 
but  is  a  fine,  large  one  and  beautifully  located.    A  magni 
ficent  grove  of    live-oaks  envelops  the  road    from  the 
landing  to  the  house.     .     .     .     Love  to  everybody  and 
God  bless  you  all. 

"  Truly  and  faithfully  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


62         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

From  the  same  place  there  is  another  letter  to  my 
mother : 

"  COOSAWHATCHIE,  South  Carolina, 

"January  28,  1862. 

"I  have  just  returned  from  Charleston,  and  received 
your  letter  of  the  i4th,  dear  Mary.  ...  I  was  called 
to  Charleston  by  the  appearance  off  the  bar  of  a  fleet  of 
vessels  the  true  character  and  intent  of  which  could  not 
be  discerned  during  the  continuance  of  the  storm  which 
obscured  the  view.  Saturday,  however,  all  doubt  was 
dispelled,  and  from  the  beach  on  Sullivan's  Island  the 
preparations  for  sinking  them  were  plainly  seen.  Twenty- 
one  were  visible  the  first  day  of  my  arrival,  but  at  the  end 
of  the  storm,  Saturday,  only  seventeen  were  seen.  Five 
of  these  were  vessels  of  war:  what  became  of  the  other 
four  is  not  known.  The  twelve  old  merchantmen  were 
being  stripped  of  their  spars,  masts,  etc.,  and  by  sunset 
seven  were  prepared  apparently  for  sinking  across  the 
mouth  of  the  Maffitt  Channel.  They  were  placed  in  a 
line  about  two  hundred  yards  apart,  about  four  miles 
from  Fort  Moultrie.  They  will  do  but  little  harm  to  the 
channel,  I  think,  but  may  deter  vessels  from  running  out 
at  night  for  fear  of  getting  on  them.  There  now  seem  to 
be  indications  of  a  movement  against  Savannah.  The 
enemy's  gunboats  are  pushing  up  the  creek  to  cut  off 
communication  between  the  city  and  Fort  Pulaski  on 
Cockspur  Island.  Unless  I  have  better  news,  I  most  go 
there  to-day.  There  are  so  many  points  of  attack,  and 
so  little  means  to  meet  them  on  water,  that  there  is  but 
little  rest.  .  .  .  Perry  and  Meredith  are  well  and 
send  regards  to  everybody.  .  .  . 

"Very  truly  and  sincerely  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

It  was  most  important  that  the  defenses  of  Charleston 
and  Savannah  should  be  made  as  strong  as  possible.  The 
difficulties  in  the  way  were  many  and  great,  but  General 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       63 

Lee's  perseverance  overcame  most  of  them.  The  result 
was  that  neither  of  those  cities  fell  till  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  a  region  of  country  was  preserved  to  the  Con 
federacy  necessary  for  the  feeding  of  its  armies.  Of  course 
all  of  this  was  not  accomplished  by  my  father  alone  in  the 
four  months  he  was  there;  but  the  plans  of  defense  he 
laid  down  were  successfully  followed. 

While  in  Savannah,  he  writes  to  my  mother : 

"SAVANNAH,  February  8,  1862. 

"I  wrote  to  you,  dear  Mary,  the  day  I  left  Coosa- 
whatchie  for  this  place.  I  have  been  here  ever  since, 
endeavouring  to  push  forward  the  work  for  the  defense  of 
the  city,  which  has  lagged  terribly  and  which  ought  to 
have  been  finished.  But  it  is  difficult  to  arouse  our 
selves  from  ease  and  comfort  to  labour  and  self-denial. 

"Guns  are  scarce,  as  well  as  ammunition,  and  I  shall 
have  to  break  up  batteries  on  the  coast  to  provide,  I  fear, 
for  this  city.  Our  enemies  are  endeavouring  to  work 
their  way  through  the  creeks  that  traverse  the  impassable 
and  soft  marshes  stretching  along  the  interior  of  the  coast 
and  communicating  with  the  sounds  and  sea,  through 
which  the  Savannah  flows,  and  thus  avoid  the  entrance 
of  the  river  commanded  by  Fort  Pulaski.  Their  boats 
require  only  seven  feet  of  water  to  float  them,  and  the 
tide  rises  seven  feet,  so  that  at  high  water  they  can  work 
their  way  and  rest  on  the  mud  at  low.  They  are  also 
provided  with  dredges  and  appliances  for  removing 
obstructions  through  the  creeks  in  question,  which  can 
not  be  guarded  by  batteries.  I  hope,  however,  we  shall 
be  able  to  stop  them,  and  I  daily  pray  to  the  Giver  of  all 
victories  to  enable  us  to  do  so.  .  .  .  I  trust  you  are 
all  well  and  doing  well,  and  wish  I  could  do  anything  to 
promote  either.  I  have  more  here  than  I  can  do,  and 
more,  I  fear,  than  I  can  well  accomplish.  It  is  so  very 
hard  to  get  anything  done,  and  while  all  wish  well  and 
mean  well,  it  is  so  different  to  get  them  to  act  energetically 


64         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

and  promptly.  .  .  .  The  news  from  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  is  not  favourable,  but  we  must  make  up  our 
minds  to  meet  with  reverses  and  overcome  them.  I  hope 
God  will  at  last  crown  our  efforts  with  success.  But  the 
contest  must  be  long  and  severe,  and  the  whole  country 
has  to  go  through  much  suffering.  It  is  necessary  we 
should  be  humbled  and  taught  to  be  less  boastful,  less 
selfish,  and  more  devoted  to  right  and  justice  to  all  the 
world.  .  .  .  Always  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


To  my  mother: 

"SAVANNAH,  February  23,  1862. 

"  I  have  been  wishing,  dear  Mary,  to  write  to  you  for 
more  than  a  week,  but  every  day  and  every  hour  seem 
so  taken  up  that  I  have  found  it  impossible.  .  .  . 
The  news  from  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina  is  not  all 
cheering,  and  disasters  seem  to  be  thickening  around  us. 
It  calls  for  renewed  energies  and  redoubled  strength  on 
our  part,  and,  I  hope,  will  produce  it.  I  fear  our  soldiers 
have  not  realised  the  necessity  for  the  endurance  and 
labour  they  are  called  upon  to  undergo,  and  that  it  is 
better  to  sacrifice  themselves  than  our  cause.  God,  I 
hope,  will  shield  us  and  give  us  success.  Here  the  enemy 
is  progressing  slowly  in  his  designs,  and  does  not  seem 
prepared,  or  to  have  determined  when  or  where  to  make 
his  attack.  His  gunboats  are  pushing  up  all  the  creeks 
and  marshes  of  the  Savannah,  and  have  attained  a  posi 
tion  so  near  the  river  as  to  shell  the  steamers  navigating 
it.  None  have  as  yet  been  struck.  I  am  engaged  in 
constructing  a  line  of  defense  at  Fort  Jackson  which,  if 
time  permits  and  guns  can  be  obtained,  I  hope  will  keep 
them  out.  They  can  bring  such  overwhelming  force  in 
all  their  movements  that  it  has  the  effect  to  demoralise 
our  new  troops.  The  accounts  given  in  the  papers  of  the 
quantity  of  cotton  shipped  to  New  York  are,  of  course, 
exaggerated.  It  is  cotton  in  the  seed  and  dirt,  and  has 
to  be  ginned  and  cleaned  after  its  arrival.  It  is  said  that 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       65 

the  negroes  are  employed  in  picking  and  collecting  it, 
and  are  paid  a  certain  amount.  But  all  these  things  are 
gathered  from  rumour,  and  can  only  be  believed  as  they 
appear  probable,  which  this  seems  to  be.  .  .  .  I 
went  yesterday  to  church,  being  the  day  appointed  for 
fasting  and  prayer.  I  wish  I  could  have  passed  it  more 
devoutly.  The  bishop  (Elliott)  gave  a  most  beautiful 
prayer  for  the  President,  which  I  hope  may  be  heard  and 
answered.  .  .  .  Here  the  yellow  jasmine,  red-bud, 
orange-tree,  etc.,  perfume  the  whole  woods,  and  the 
japonicas  and  azaleas  cover  the  garden.  Perry  and 
Meredith  are  well.  May  God  bless  and  keep  you  always 
is  the  constant  prayer  of  your  husband, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

To  his  daughter  Annie: 

"SAVANNAH,  March  2,  1862. 

"My  Precious  Annie:  It  has  been  a  long  time  since  I 
have  written  to  you,  but  you  have  been  constantly  in 
my  thoughts.     I  think  of  you  all,  separately  and  col 
lectively,  in  the  busy  hours  of  the  day  and  the  silent 
hours  of  the  night,   and  the  recollection  of  each  and 
every  one  whiles  away  the  long  night,   in  which  my 
anxious  thoughts  drive  away  sleep.     But  I  always  feel 
that    you   and  Agnes  at  those  times  are  sound  asleep, 
and  that  it  is  immaterial  to  either  where  the  blockaders 
are  or  what  their  progress  is  in  the  river.     I  hope^you 
are  all  well,  and  as  happy  as  you  can  be  in  these  perilous 
times  to  our  country.     They  look  dark  at  present,  and  it 
is  plain  we  have  not  suffered  enough,  laboured  enough, 
repented   enough,    to   deserve   success.     But   they   will 
brighten  after  awhile,  and  I  trust  that  a  merciful  God 
will  arouse  us  to  a  sense  of  our  danger,  bless  our  honest 
efforts,  and  drive  back  our  enemies  to  their  homes.     Our 
people  have  not  been  earnest  enough,  have  thought  too 
much  of  themselves  and  their  ease,  and  instead  of  turn 
ing  out  to  a  man,  have  been  content  to  nurse  themselves 
and  their  dimes,  and  leave  the  protection  of  themselves 


66         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

and  families  to  others.  To  satisfy  their  consciences, 
they  have  been  clamorous  in  criticising  what  others  have 
done,  and  endeavoured  to  prove  that  they  ought  to  do 
nothing.  This  is  not  the  way  to  accomplish  our  inde 
pendence.  I  have  been  doing  all  I  can  with  our  small 
means  and  slow  workmen  to  defend  the  cities  and  coast 
here.  Against  ordinary  numbers  we  are  pretty  strong, 
but  against  the  hosts  our  enemies  seem  able  to  bring 
everywhere  there  is  no  calculating.  But  if  our  men  will 
stand  to  their  work,  we  shall  give  them  trouble  and 
damage  them  yet.  They  have  worked  their  way  across 
the  marshes,  with  their  dredges,  under  cover  of  their 
gunboats,  to  the  Savannah  River,  about  Fort  Pulaski.  I 
presume  they  will  endeavour  to  reduce  the  fort  and  thus 
open  a  way  for  their  vessels  up  the  river.  But  we  have 
an  interior  line  they  must  force  before  reaching  the  city. 
It  is  on  this  line  we  are  working,  slowly  to  my  anxious 
mind,  but  as  fast  as  I  can  drive  them.  .  .  .  Good 
bye,  my  dear  child.  May  God  bless  you  and  our  poor 
country. 

"Your  devoted  father, 

UR.  E.  LEE." 

Soon  after  this  letter  was  written  my  father  was  re 
called  to  Richmond,  "and  was  assigned  on  the  i3th  of 
March,  under  the  direction  of  the  President,  to  the 
conduct  of  the  military  operations  of  all  the  armies  of 
the  Confederate  States."*  My  mother  was  still  at  the 
White  House,  my  brother's  place  on  the  Pamunkey,  and 
there  my  father  wrote  to  her : 

"RICHMOND,  March  14,  1862. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  have  been  trying  all  the  week  to 
write  to  you,  but  have  not  been  able.  I  have  been 
placed  on  duty  here  to  conduct  operations  under  the 
direction  of  the  President.  It  will  give  me  great  pleasure 

*  "  Four  Years  with  General  Lee." 


LETTERS  TO  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTERS       67 

to  do  anything  I  can  to  relieve  him  arid  serve  the  country, 
but  I  do  not  see  either  advantage  or  pleasure  in  my 
duties.  But  I  will  not  complain,  but  do  my  best.  I  do 
not  see  at  present  either  that  it  will  enable  me  to  see 
much  more  of  you.  In  the  present  condition  of  affairs 
no  one  can  foresee  what  may  happen,  nor  in  my  judg 
ment  is  it  advisable  for  any  one  to  make  arrangements 
with  a  view  to  permanency  or  pleasure.  We  must  all 
do  what  promises  the  most  usefulness.  The  presence  of 
some  one  at  the  White  House  is  necessary  as  long  as 
practicable.  How  long  it  will  be  practicable  for  you  and 
Charlotte  to  remain  there  I  cannot  say.  The  enemy  is 
pushing  us  back  in  all  directions,  and  how  far  he  will  be 
successful  depends  much  upon  our  efforts  and  the  mercy 
of  Providence.  I  shall,  in  all  human  probability,  soon 
have  to  take  the  field,  so  for  the  present  I  think  things 
had  better  remain  as  they  are.  Write  me  your  views. 
If  you  think  it  best  for  you  to  come  to  Richmond  I  can 
soon  make  arrangements  for  your  comfort  and  shall  be 
very  glad  of  your  company  and  presence.  We  have 
experienced  a  great  affliction  both  in  our  private  and 
public  relations.  Our  good  and  noble  Bishop  Meade 
died  last  night.  He  was  very  anxious  to  see  you,  sent 
you  his  love  and  kindest  remembrances,  and  had  I  known 
in  time  yesterday  I  should  have  sent  expressly  for  you 
to  come  up.  But  I  did  not  know  of  his  wish  or  condition 
till  after  the  departure  of  the  cars  yesterday.  Between 
6  and  7  P.  M.  yesterday  he  sent  for  me,  said  he  wished  to 
bid  me  good-bye,  and  to  give  me  his  blessing,  which  he 
did  in  the  most  affecting  manner.  Called  me  Robert  and 
reverted  to  the  time  I  used  to  say  the  catechism  to  him. 
He  invoked  the  blessing  of  God  upon  me  and  the  country. 
He  spoke  with  difficulty  and  pain,  but  was  perfectly 
calm  and  clear.  His  hand  was  then  cold  and  pulseless, 
yet  he  shook  mine  warmly.  *  I  ne'er  shall  look  upon  his 
like  again.'  He  died  during  the  night.  I  presume  the 
papers  of  to-morrow  will  tell  you  all.  .  .  . 
"Very  truly  and  sincerely, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


68         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

The  next  day  he  again  writes  to  my  mother. 

"RICHMOND,  March  15,  1862. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  wrote  you  yesterday  by  mail.  On 
returning  to  my  quarters  last  night  after  1 1  p.  M.  Custis 
informed  me  Robert  had  arrived  and  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  go  into  the  army.  He  stayed  at  the  Spottswood, 
and  this  morning  I  went  with  him  to  get  his  overcoat, 
blankets,  etc.  There  is  great  difficulty  in  procuring 
what  is  good.  They  all  have  to  be  made,  and  he  has 
gone  to  the  office  of  the  ad  jut  ant -general  of  Virginia  to 
engage  in  the  service.  God  grant  it  may  be  for  his  good 
as  He  has  permitted  it.  I  must  be  resigned.  I  told  him 
of  the  exemption  granted  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  the 
professors  and  students  of  the  university,  but  he  expressed 
no  desire  to  take  advantage  of  it.  It  would  be  useless 
for  him  to  go,  if  he  did  not  improve  himself,  nor  would  I 
wish  him  to  go  merely  for  exemption.  As  I  have  done 
all  in  the  matter  that  seems  proper  and  right,  I  must 
now  leave  the  rest  in  the  hands  of  our  merciful  God.  I 
hope  our  son  will  do  his  duty  and  make  a  good  soldier. 
.  .  .  I  had  expected  yesterday  to  go  to  North  Caro 
lina  this  morning,  but  the  President  changed  his  mind. 
I  should  like  to  go  to  see  you  to-morrow,  but  in  the 
present  condition  of  things  do  not  feel  that  I  ought  to 
be  absent.  .  .  I  may  have  to  go  to  North  Carolina  or 
Norfolk  yet.  New  Berne,  N.  C.,  has  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  In  Arkansas  our  troops  under  Van  Dorn 
have  had  a  hard  battle,  but  nothing  decisive  gained. 
Four  generals  killed  —  Mclntosh,  McCullogh,  Herbert, 
and  Slack.  General  Price  wounded.  Loss  on  both 
sides  said  to  be  heavy.  .  .  . 

"Very  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


CHAPTER  IV 
ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER 

VOLUNTEER  IN  ROCKBRIDGE  ARTILLERY — "FOUR  YEARS 
WITH  GENERAL  LEE"  QUOTED — MEETINGS  BETWEEN 
FATHER  AND  SON — PERSONAL  CHARACTERISTICS  OF 
THE  GENERAL — DEATH  OF  HIS  DAUGHTER,  ANNIE — 

HIS     SON      ROBERT     RAISED    FROM    THE    RANKS — THE 

HORSES,    "GRACE    DARLING"    AND    "TRAVELLER" — 
FREDERICKSBURG — FREEING  SLAVES 

LIKE  all  the  students  at  the  university,  I  was  wild  to 
go  into  the  army,  and  wrote  my  father  that  I  was  afraid 
the  war  would  be  over  before  I  had  a  chance  to  serve. 
His  reply  was  that  I  need  have  no  fear  of  that  contin 
gency,  that  I  must  study  hard  and  fit  myself  to  be  useful 
to  my  country  when  I  was  old  enough  to  be  of  real  service 
to  her;  so,  very  properly,  I  was  not  allowed  to  have  my 
wish  then.  In  a  letter  to  my  mother  written  April,  '61, 
he  says: 

"  I  wrote  to  Robert  that  I  could  not  consent  to  take 
boys  from  their  schools  and  young  men  from  their  colleges 
and  put  them  in  the  ranks  at  the  beginning  of  a  war, 
when  they  are  not  wanted  and  when  there  were  men 
enough  for  that  purpose.  The  war  may  last  ten  years. 
Where  are  our  ranks  to  be  filled  from  then?  I  was 
willing  for  his  company  to  continue  at  their  studies,  to 
keep  up  its  organisation,  and  to  perfect  themselves  in 
their  military  exercises,  and  to  perform  duty  at  the  col 
lege;  but  not  to  be  called  into  the  field.  I  therefore 

69 


70         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

wished  him  to  remain.     If  the  exercises  at  the  college 
are  suspended,  he  can  then  come  home.     .     .     ." 

But  in  the  spring  of  '62  he  allowed  me  to  volunteer, 
and  I  having  selected  the  company  I  wished  to  join,  the 
Rockbridge  Artillery,  he  gave  his  approval,  and  wrote 
me  to  come  to  Richmond,  where  he  would  give  me  my 
outfit.     He  was  just  as  sweet  and  loving  to  me  then  as 
in  the  old  days.     I  had  seen  so  little  of  him  during  the 
last  six  years  that  I  stood  somewhat  in  awe  of  him.     I 
soon  found,  however,  that  I  had  no  cause  for  such  a 
feeling.     He  took  great  pains  in  getting  what  was  neces 
sary  for  me.     The  baggage  of  a  private  in  a  Confederate 
battery  was  not  extensive.     How  little  was  needed  my 
father,  even  at  that  time,  did  not  know,  for  though  he 
was  very  careful  in  providing  me  with  the  least  amount 
he  thought  necessary,  I  soon  found  by  experience  that  he 
had  given  me  a  great  deal  too  much.  It  was  characteristic 
of  his  consideration  for  others  and  the  unselfishness  of 
his  nature,  that  at  this  time,  when  weighed  down,  harassed 
and  burdened  by  the   cares   incident  to  bringing  the 
untrained  forces  of  the  Confederacy  into  the  field,  and 
preparing  them  for  a  struggle  the  seriousness  of   which 
he  knew  better  than  any  one,  he  should  give  his  time 
and  attention  to  the  minute  details  of  fitting  out  his 
youngest  son  as  a  private  soldier.     I  think  it  worthy  of 
note  that  the  son  of  the  commanding  general  enlisting  as 
a  private  in  his  army  was  not  thought  to  be  anything  re 
markable  or  unusual.     Neither  my  mother,  my  family,  my 
friends  nor  myself  expected  any  other  course,  and  I  do  not 
suppose  it  ever  occurred  to  my  father  to  think  of  giving 
me  an  office,  which  he  could  easily  have  done.     I  know 
it  never  occurred  to  me,  nor  did  I  ever  hear,  at  that  time 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER     71 

or  afterwards,  from  anyone,  that  I  might  have  been 
entitled  to  better  rank  than  that  of  a  private  because  of 
my  father's  prominence  in  Virginia  and  in  the  Confed 
eracy.  With  the  good  advice  to  be  obedient  to  all 
authority,  to  do  my  duty  in  everything,  great  or  small, 
he  bade  me  good-bye,  and  sent  me  off  to  the  Valley  of 
Virginia,  where  the  command  in  which  I  was  about  to 
enlist  were  serving  under  "Stonewall  Jackson." 

Of  my  father's  military  duties  at  this  time,  Colonel 
Taylor,  in  his  "  Four  Years  with  General  Lee,  "  says: 

"  Exercising  a  constant  supervision  over  the  condition 
of  affairs  at  each  important  point,  thoroughly  informed  as 
to  the  resources  and  necessities  of  the  several  commanders 
of  armies  in  the  field,  as  well  as  of  the  dangers  which 
respectively  threatened  them,  he  was  enabled  to  give 
them  wise  counsel,  to  offer  them  valuable  suggestions, 
and  to  respond  to  their  demands  for  assistance  and  sup 
port  to  such  extent  as  the  limited  resources  of  the  gov 
ernment  would  permit.  It  was  in  great  measure  due  to 
his  advice  and  encouragement  that  General  Magruder  so 
stoutly  and  so  gallantly  held  his  lines  on  the  Peninsula 
against  General  McClellan  until  troops  could  be  sent  to 
his  relief  from  General  Johnston's  army.  I  recollect  a 
telegraphic  despatch  received  by  General  Lee  from 
General  Magruder,  in  which  he  stated  that  a  council  of 
war  which  he  had  convened  had  unanimously  determined 
that  his  army  should  retreat,  in  reply  to  which  General 
Lee  urged  him  to  maintain  his  lines,  and  to  make  as  bold 
a  front  as  possible,  and  encouraged  him  with  the  prospect 
of  being  early  reinforced.  No  better  illustration  of  the 
nature  and  importance  of  the  duty  performed  by  General 
Lee,  while  in  this  position,  can  be  given  than  the  following 
letter — one  of  a  number  of  similar  import — written  by 
him  to  General  Jackson,  the  'rough'  or  original  draft  of 
which  is  still  in  my  possession: 


72         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

'"HEADQUARTERS,  RICHMOND,  Virginia, 

"'April  29,    1862. 
"'  MAJOR-GENERAL   T.   J.  JACKSON,  commanding,   etc., 

Swift  Run  Gap,  Virginia. 

"'General:  I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  let 
ter  of  yesterday's  date.  From  the  reports  that  reach  me 
that  are  entitled  to  credit,  the  force  of  the  enemy  opposite 
Fredericksburg  is  represented  as  too  large  to  admit  of  any 
diminution  whatever  of  our  army  in  that  vicinity  at  pres 
ent,  as  it  might  not  only  invite  an  attack  on  Richmond, 
but  jeopard  the  safety  of  the  army  in  the  Peninsula.  I 
regret,  therefore,  that  your  request  to  have  five  thousand 
men  sent  from  that  army  to  reinforce  you  cannot  be  com 
plied  with.  Can  you  not  draw  enough  from  the  command 
of  General  Edward  Johnson  to  warrant  you  in  attacking 
Banks  ?  The  last  return  received  from  that  army  show  a 
present  force  of  upward  of  thirty-five  hundred,  which,  it 
is  hoped,  has  since  increased  by  recruits  and  returned  fur 
loughs.  As  he  does  not  appear  to  be  pressed,  it  is  sug 
gested  that  a  portion  of  his  force  might  be  temporarily 
removed  from  its  present  position  and  made  available  for 
the  movement  in  question.  A  decisive  and  successful 
blow  at  Banks's  column  would  be  fraught  with  the  hap 
piest  results,  and  I  deeply  regret  my  inability  to  send  you 
the  reinforcements  you  ask.  If,  however,  you  think  the 
combined  forces  of  Generals  Ewell  and  Johnson,  with 
your  own,  inadequate  for  the  move,  General  Ewell  might, 
with  the  assistance  of  General  Anderson's  army  near 
Fredericksburg,  strike  at  McDowell's  army  between  that 
city  and  Acquia,  with  much  promise  of  success ;  provided 
you  feel  sufficiently  strong  alone  to  hold  Banks  in  check. 
'"Very  truly  yours, 

"'R.  EC  LEE/ 

"  The  reader  will  observe  that  this  letter  bears  the  date 
'April  29,  1862.'  On  May  5th  or  6th,  General  Jackson 
formed  a  junction  between  his  own  command  and  that  of 
General  Edward  Johnson;  on  May  8th,  he  defeated  Milroy 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER     73 

at  McDowell.  Soon  thereafter,  the  command  of  General 
Ewell  was  united  to  that  already  tinder  Jackson,  and  on 
the  25th  of  the  same  month  Banks  was  defeated  and  put 
to  flight.  Other  incidents  might  be  cited  to  illustrate 
this  branch  of  the  important  service  rendered  at  this 
period  by  General  Lee.  The  line  of  earthworks 
around  the  city  of  Richmond,  and  other  preparations 
for  resisting  an  attack,  testified  to  the  immense  care 
and  labour  bestowed  upon  the  defense  of  the  capital, 
so  seriously  threatened  by  the  army  of  General 
McClellan." 

On  May  3ist,  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  was  fought,  and 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  Con 
federate  Army,  was  severely  wounded.  The  next  day, 
by  order  of  the  President,  General  Lee  took  command  of 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

The  day  after  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  during  the 
"Seven  Days"  fighting  around  Richmond,  was  the  first 
time  I  met  my  father  after  I  had  joined  General  Jackson. 
The  tremendous  work  Stonewall's  men  had  performed, 
including  the  rapid  march  from  the  Valley  of  Virginia, 
the  short  rations,  the  bad  water,  and  the  great  heat,  had 
begun  to  tell  upon  us,  and  I  was  pretty  well  worn  out. 
On  this  particular  morning,  my  battery  had  not  moved 
from  its  bivouac  ground  of  the  previous  night,  but  was 
parked  in  an  open  field  all  ready,  waiting  orders.  Most 
of  the  men  were  lying  down,  many  sleeping,  myself  among 
the  latter  number.  To  get  some  shade  and  to  be  out  of 
the  way,  I  had  crawled  under  a  caisson,  and  was  busy 
making  up  many  lost  hours  of  rest.  Suddenly  I  was 
rudely  awakened  by  a  comrade,  prodding  me  with  a 
sponge-staff  as  I  had  failed  to  be  aroused  by  his  call,  and 
was  told  to  get  up  and  come  out,  that  some  one  wished  to 
see  me.  Half  awake,  I  staggered  out,  and  found  myself 


74         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

face  to  face  with  General  Lee  and  his  staff.  Their  fresh 
uniforms,  bright  equipments  and  well-groomed  horses 
contrasted  so  forcibly  with  the  war-worn  appearance  of 
our  command  that  I  was  completely  dazed.  It  took  me 
a  moment  or  two  to  realise  what  it  all  meant,  but  when  I 
saw  my  father's  loving  eyes  and  smile  it  became  clear  to 
me  that  he  had  ridden  by  to  see  if  I  was  safe  and  to  ask 
how  I  was  getting  along.  I  remember  well  how  curiously 
those  with  him  gazed  at  me,  and  I  am  sure  that  it  must 
have  struck  them  as  very  odd  that  such  a  dirty,  ragged, 
unkempt  youth  could  have  been  the  son  of  this  grand- 
looking  victorious  commander. 

I  was  introduced  recently  to  a  gentleman,  now  living 
in  Washington,  who,  when  he  found  out  my  name,  said  he 
had  met  me  once  before  and  that  it  was  on  this  occasion. 
At  that  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  Tenth  Virginia  Infan 
try,  Jackson's  Division,  and  was  camped  near  our  battery. 
Seeing  General  Lee  and  staff  approach,  he,  with  others, 
drew  near  to  have  a  look  at  them,  and  thus  witnessed  the 
meeting  between  father  and  son.  He  also  said  that  he 
had  often  told  of  this  incident  as  illustrating  the  peculiar 
composition  of  our  army. 

After  McClellan's  change  of  base  to  Harrison's  Landing 
on  James  River,  the  army  lay  inactive  around  Richmond. 
I  had  a  short  furlough  on  account  of  sickness,  and  saw 
my  father;  also  my  mother  and  sisters,  who  were  then 
living  in  Richmond.  He  was  the  same  loving  father  to 
us  all,  as  kind  and  thoughtful  of  my  mother,  who  was  an 
invalid,  and  of  us,  his  children,  as  if  our  comfort  and  hap 
piness  were  all  he  had  to  care  for.  His  great  victory  did 
not  elate  him,  so  far  as  one  could  see.  In  a  letter  of  July 
gth,  to  my  mother,  he  says : 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER     75 

".  .  .  I  have  returned  to  my  old  quarters  and  am 
filled  with  gratitude  to  our  Heavenly  Father  for  all  the 
mercies  He  has  extended  to  us.  Our  success  has  not  been 
so  great  or  complete  as  we  could  have  desired,  but  God 
knows  what  is  best  for  us.  Our  enemy  met  with  a  heavy 
loss,  from  which  it  must  take  him  some  time  to  recover, 
before  he  can  recommence  his  operations.  .  .  ." 

The  Honourable  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  Vice-President 
of  the  Confederate  States,  says  of  General  Lee: 

"What  I  had  seen  General  Lee  to  be  at  first — child-like 
in  simplicity  and  unselfish  in  his  character — he  remained, 
unspoiled  by  praise  and  by  success." 

He  was  the  same  in  victory  or  defeat,  always  calm  and 
contained.  Jackson,  having  had  a  short  rest,  was  now 
moved  up  to  Gordonsville.  I  rejoined  my  command  and 
went  with  him,  supplied  with  new  clothes  and  a  fresh 
stock  of  health.  In  a  letter  to  his  three  daughters  who 
were  in  North  Carolina,  dated  Richmond,  July  18,  1862, 
he  writes  describing  my  condition : 

"  Rob  came  out  to  see  me  one  afternoon.  He  had  been 
much  worn  down  by  his  marching  and  fighting,  and  had 
gone  to  his  mamma  to  get  a  little  rest.  He  was  thin  but 
well,  but,  not  being  able  to  get  a  clean  shirt,  has  not  got 
to  see  Miss  Norvell.  He  has  rejoined  his  company  and 
gone  off  with  General  Jackson,  as  good  as  new  again,  I 
hope,  inasmuch  as  your  mother  thought,  by  means  of  a 
bath  and  a  profusion  of  soap,  she  had  cleansed  the  out 
ward  man  considerably,  and  replenished  his  lost  ward 
robe." 

From  Gordonsville  we  were  moved  on  to  Orange  County, 
and  then  commenced  that  series  of  manoeuvres  by  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  beginning  with  the  battle  of 
Cedar  Mountain  and  ending  with  second  Manassas. 


76         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

When  I  again  saw  my  father,  he  rode  at  the  head  of 
Longstreet's  men  on  the  field  of  Manassas,  and  we  of 
Jackson's  corps,  hard  pressed  for  two  days,  welcomed  him 
and  the  divisions  which  followed  him  with  great  cheers. 
Two  rifle-guns  from  our  battery  had  been  detached  and 
sent  to  join  Longstreet's  advance  artillery,  under  General 
Stephen  D.  Lee,  moving  into  action  on  our  right.  I  was 
"  Number  i  "  at  one  of  these  guns.  We  advanced  rapidly/ 
from  hill  to  hill,  firing  as  fast  as  we  could,  trying  to  keep 
ahead  of  our  gallant  comrades,  just  arrived.  As  we  were 
ordered  to  cease  firing  from  the  last  position  we  took,  and 
the  breathless  cannoneers  were  leaning  on  their  guns, 
General  Lee  and  staff  galloped  up,  and  from  this  point  of 
vantage  scanned  the  movements  of  the  enemy  and  of  our 
forces.  The  general  reined  in  "Traveller"  close  by  my 
gun,  not  fifteen  feet  from  me.  I  looked  at  them  all  some 
few  minutes,  and  then  went  up  and  spoke  to  Captain 
Mason  of  the  staff,  who  had  not  the  slightest  idea  who  I 
was.  When  he  found  me  out  he  was  greatly  amused,  and 
introduced  me  to  several  others  whom  I  already  knew. 
My  appearance  was  even  less  prepossessing  than  when  I 
had  met  my  father  at  Cold  Harbour,  for  I  had  been  march 
ing  night  and  day  for  four  days,  with  no  opportunity  to 
wash  myself  or  my  clothes;  my  face  and  hands  were 
blackened  with  powder-sweat,  and  the  few  garments  I 
had  on  were  ragged  and  stained  with  the  red  soil  of  that 
section.  When  the  General,  after  a  moment  or  two, 
dropped  his  glass  to  his  side,  and  turned  to  his  staff, 
Captain  Mason  said: 

"  General,  here  is  some  one  who  wants  to  speak  to  you." 

The    General,  seeing  a  much-begrimed   artillery-man, 
sponge-staff  in  hand,  said : 

"Well,  my  man,  what  can  I  do  for  you?"     I  replied: 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER     77 

"  Why,  General,  don't  you  know  me  ?"  and  he,  of  course, 
at  once  recognised  me,  and  was  very  much  amused  at  my 
appearance  and  most  glad  to  see  that  I  was  safe  and  well. 

We,  of  the  ranks,  used  to  have  our  opinions  on  all 
subjects.  The  armies,  their  generals,  and  their  manoeu 
vres  were  freely  discussed.  If  there  was  one  point  on 
which  the  entire  army  was  unanimous — I  speak  of  the 
rank  and  file — it  was  that  we  were  not  in  the  least  afraid 
of  General  Pope,  but  were  perfectly  sure  of  whipping  him 
whenever  we  could  meet  him.  The  passages  I  quote  here 
from  two  of  General  Lee's  letters  indicate  that  this  feeling 
may  possibly  have  extended  to  our  officers.  In  a  letter 
to  my  mother,  from  near  Richmond,  dated  July  28,  1862, 
he  says: 

".  .  .  When  you  write  to  Rob,  tell  him  to  catch 
Pope  for  me,  and  also  bring  in  his  cousin,  Louis  Marshall, 
who,  I  am  told,  is  on  his  staff.  I  could  forgive  the  latter's 
fighting  against  us,  but  not  his  joining  Pope." 

And  again: 

".  .  .  Johnny  Lee*  saw  Louis  Marshall  after  Jack 
son's  last  battle,  who  asked  him  kindly  after  his  old 
uncle,  and  said  his  mother  was  well.  Johnny  said  Louis 
looked  wretched  himself.  I  am  sorry  he  is  in  such  bad 
company,  but  I  suppose  he  could  not  help  it." 

As  one  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  I  occasionally 
saw  the  commander-in-chief ,  on  the  march,  or  passed  the 
headquarters  close  enough  to  recognise  him  and  members 
of  his  staff,  but  a  private  soldier  in  Jackson's  corps  did 
not  have  much  time,  during  that  campaign,  for  visiting, 
and  until  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  I  had  no  opportunity 

*His  nephew. 


78         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

of  speaking  to  him.  On  that  occasion  our  battery  had 
been  severely  handled,  losing  many  men  and  horses. 
Having  three  guns  disabled,  we  were  ordered  to  with 
draw,  and  while  moving  back  we  passed  General  Lee  and 
several  of  his  staff,  grouped  on  a  little  knoll  near  the  road. 
Having  no  definite  orders  where  to  go,  our  captain,  seeing 
the  commanding  general,  halted  us  and  rode  over  to  get 
some  instructions.  Some  others  and  myself  went  along 
to  see  and  hear.  General  Lee  was  dismounted  with  some 
of  his  staff  around  him,  a  courier  holding  his  horse. 
Captain  Poague,  commanding  our  battery,  the  Rock- 
bridge  Artillery,  saluted,  reported  our  condition,  and 
asked  for  instructions.  The  General,  listening  patiently, 
looked  at  us — his  eyes  passing  over  me  without  any  sign 
of  recognition — and  then  ordered  Captain  Poague  to  take 
the  most  serviceable  horses  and  men,  man  the  uninjured 
gun,  send  the  disabled  part  of  his  command  back  to  refit, 
and  report  to  the  front  for  duty.  As  Poague  turned  to 
go,  I  went  up  to  speak  to  my  father.  When  he  found  out 
who  I  was,  he  congratulated  me  on  being  well  and  unhurt. 
I  then  said: 

"  General,  are  you  going  to  send  us  in  again  ? " 

"  Yes,  my  son,"  he  replied,  with  a  smile;  "you  all  must 
do  what  you  can  to  help  drive  these  people  back." 

This  meeting  between  General  Lee  and  his  son  has 
been  told  very  often  and  in  many  different  ways,  but  the 
above  is  what  I  remember  of  the  circumstances. 

He  was  much  on  foot  during  this  part  of  the  campaign, 
and  moved  about  either  in  an  ambulance  or  on  horse 
back,  with  a  courier  leading  his  horse.  The  accident 
which  temporarily  disabled  him  happened  before  he 
left  Virginia.  He  had  dismounted,  and  was  sitting  on  a 
fallen  log,  with  the  bridle  reins  hung  over  his  arm.  Travel- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER    79 

ler,  becoming  frightened  at  something,  suddenly  dashed 
away,  threw  him  violently  to  the  ground,  spraining  both 
hands  and  breaking  a  small  bone  in  one  of  them.  A 
letter  written  some  weeks  afterward  to  my  mother 
alludes  to  this  meeting  with  his  son,  and  to  the  condition 
of  his  hands : 

"  .  .  .  I  have  not  laid  eyes  on  Rob  since  I  saw 
him  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg — going  in  with  a  single 
gun  of  his  for  the  second  time,  after  his  company  had  been 
withdrawn  in  consequence  of  three  of  its  guns  having 
been  disabled.  Custis  has  seen  him  and  says  he  is  very 
well,  and  apparently  happy  and  content.  My  hands  are 
improving  slowly,  and,  with  my  left  hand,  I  am  able  to 
dress  and  undress  myself,  which  is  a  great  comfort.  My 
right  is  becoming  of  some  assistance,  too,  though  it  is 
still  swollen  and  sometimes  painful.  The  bandages  have 
been  removed.  I  am  now  able  to  sign  my  name.  It  has 
been  six  weeks  to-day  since  I  was  injured,  and  I  have  at 
last  discarded  the  sling." 

After  the  army  recrossed  the  Potomac  into  Virginia, 
we  were  camped  for  some  time  in  the  vicinity  of  Win 
chester.  One  beautiful  afternoon  in  October,  a  courier 
from  headquarters  rode  up  to  our  camp,  found  me  out, 
and  handed  me  a  note  from  my  father.  It  told  me  of 
the  death  of  my  sister  Annie.  As  I  have  lost  this  letter 
to  me,  I  quote  from  one  to  my  mother  about  the  same 
time.  It  was  dated  October  26,  1862: 

.  .  .  I  cannot  express  the  anguish  I  feel  at  the 
death  of  our  sweet  Annie.  To  know  that  I  shall  never 
see  her  again  on  earth,  that  her  place  in  our  circle,  which 
I  always  hoped  one  day  to  enjoy,  is  forever  vacant,  is 
agonising  in  the  extreme.  But  God  in  this,  as  in  all 
things,  has  mingled  mercy  with  the  blow,  in  selecting 


8o         RECOLLECTIONS  OP  GENERAL  LEE 

that  one  best  prepared  to  leave  us.  May  you  be  able  to 
join  me  in  saying  'His  will  be  done!'  ...  I  know 
how  much  you  will  grieve  and  how  much  she  will  be 
mourned.  I  wish  I  could  give  you  any  comfort,  but 
beyond  our  hope  in  the  great  mercy  of  God,  and  the 
belief  that  He  takes  her  at  the  time  and  place  when  it  is 
best  for  her  to  go,  there  is  none.  May  that  same  mercy 
be  extended  to  us  all,  and  may  we  be  prepared  for  His 


In  a  letter  to  my  sister  Mary,  one  month  later,  from 
"Camp  near  Fredericksburg " : 

.  .  .  The  death  of  my  dear  Annie  was,  indeed, 
to  me  a  bitter  pang,  but  '  the  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord 
has  taken  away:  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  In 
the  quiet  hours  of  the  night,  when  there  is  nothing  to 
lighten  the  full  weight  of  my  grief,  I  feel  as  if  I  should 
be  overwhelmed.  I  have  always  counted,  if  God  should 
spare  me  a  few  days  after  this  Civil  War  was  ended,  that 
I  should  have  her  with  me,  but  year  after  year  my  hopes 
go  out,  and  I  must  be  resigned.  ..." 

To  this  daughter  whose  loss  grieved  him  so  he  was 
specially  devoted.  She  died  in  North  Carolina,  at  the 
Warren  White  Sulphur  Springs.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
the  citizens  of  the  county  erected  over  her  grave  a  hand 
some  monument.  General  Lee  was  invited  to  be  present 
at  the  ceremonies  of  the  unveiling.  In  his  reply,  he  says : 

.  .  I  have  always  cherished  the  intention  of 
visiting  the  tomb  of  her  who  never  gave  me  aught  but 
pleasure;  .  .  .  Though  absent  in  person,  my  heart 
will  be  with  you,  and  my  sorrow  and  devotions  will  be 
mingled  with  yours.  ...  I  inclose,  according  to 
your  request,  the  date  of  my  daughter's  birth  and  the 
inscription  proposed  for  the  monument  over  her  tomb. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER    81 

The  latter  are  the  last  lines  of  the  hymn  which  she  asked 
for  just  before  her  death." 

A  visitor  to  her  grave,  some  years  after  the  war,  thus 
describes  it: 

"  In  the  beautiful  and  quiet  graveyard  near  the  Springs, 
a  plain  shaft  of  native  granite  marks  the  grave  of  this 
beloved  daughter.  On  one  side  is  cut  in  the  stone, 
'Annie  C.  Lee,  daughter  of  General  R.  E.  Lee  and  Mary 

C.  Lee' — and  on  the  opposite — 'Born  at  Arlington,  June 
1 8,   1839,  and  died  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Warren 
County,    North   Carolina,  Oct.    20,   1862.'     On   another 
side  are  the  lines  selected  by  her  father, 

'  *  Perfect  and  true  are  all  His  ways 
Whom  heaven  adores  and  earth  obeys.'" 

That  autumn  I  was  offered  the  position  of  Lt.  and  A. 

D.  C.  on  the  staff  of  my  brother,  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  just  pro 
moted  from  the  colonelcy  of  the  pth  Virginia  Cavalry 
to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  the  same  arm  of  the  ser 
vice.     My  father  had  told  me  when  I  joined  the  army 
to  do  my  whole  duty  faithfully,  not  to  be  rash  about 
volunteering  for  any  service  out  of  my  regular  line,  and 
always  to  accept  promotion.     After  consulting  him,  it 
was  decided  that  I  should  take  the  position  offered,  and 
he  presented  me  with  a  horse  and  one  of  his  swords.     My 
promotion  necessitated  my  having  an  honourable  dis 
charge  as  a  private,  from  the  ranks,  and  this  I  obtained 
in  the  proper  way  from  General  " Stonewall"  Jackson, 
commanding  the  corps  of  which  my  company  was  a  part, 
and  was  thus  introduced  for  the  first  time  to  that  remark 
able  man.     Having  served  in  his  command  since  my 
enlistment,  I  had  been  seeing  him  daily.     "Old  Jack," 


82         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

at  a  distance,  was  as  familiar  to  me  as  one  of  the  battery 
guns,  but  I  had  never  met  him,  and  felt  much  awe  at 
being  ushered  into  his  presence.  This  feeling,  however, 
was  groundless,  for  he  was  seemingly  so  much  embar 
rassed  by  the  interview  that  I  really  felt  sorry  for  him 
before  he  dismissed  me  with  my  discharge  papers,  properly 
made  out  and  signed. 

I  had  received  a  letter  from  my  father  telling  me  to 
come  to  him  as  soon  as  I  had  gotten  my  discharge  from 
my  company,  so  I  proceeded  at  once  to  his  headquarters, 
which  were  situated  near  Orange  Court  House,  on  a 
wooded  hill  just  east  of  the  village.  I  found  there  the 
horse  which  he  gave  me.  She  was  a  daughter  of  his 
mare,  "Grace  Darling,"  and,  though  not  so  handsome 
as  her  mother,  she  inherited  many  of  her  good  qualities, 
and  carried  me  well  until  the  end  of  the  war  and  for 
thirteen  years  afterward.  She  was  four  years  old,  a 
solid  bay,  and  never  failed  me  a  single  day  during  three 
years'  hard  work.  The  General  was  on  the  point  of 
moving  his  headquarters  down  to  Fredericksburg,  some 
of  the  army  having  already  gone  forward  to  that  city.  I 
think  the  camp  was  struck  the  day  after  I  arrived,  and 
as  the  General's  hands  were  not  yet  entirely  well,  he 
allowed  me,  as  a  great  favour,  to  ride  his  horse  "Trav 
eller."  Amongst  the  soldiers  this  horse  was  as  well  known 
as  was  his  master.  He  was  a  handsome  iron-gray  with 
black  points — mane  and  tail  very  dark — sixteen  hands 
high,  and  five  years  old.  He  was  born  near  the  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  West  Virginia,  and  attracted  the  notice 
of  my  father  when  he  was  in  that  part  of  the  State  in  1861. 
He  was  never  known  to  tire,  and,  though  quiet  and  sen 
sible  in  general  and  afraid  of  nothing,  yet  if  not  regularly 
exercised,  he  fretted  a  good  deal,  especially  in  a  crowd  of 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER    83 

horses.  But  there  can  be  no  better  description  of  this 
famous  horse  than  the  one  given  by  his  master.  It  was 
dictated  to  his  daughter  Agnes  at  Lexington,  Virginia, 
after  the  war,  in  response  to  some  artist  who  had  asked 
for  a  description,  and  was  corrected  in  his  own  hand 
writing  : 

"  If  I  were  an  artist  like  you  I  would  draw  a  true  picture 
of  Traveller — representing  his  fine  proportions,  muscular 
figure,  deep  chest  and  short  back,  strong  haunches,  flat 
legs,  small  head,  broad  forehead,  delicate  ears,  quick  eye, 
small  feet,  and  black  mane  and  tail.  Such  a  picture 
would  inspire  a  poet,  whose  genius  could  then  depict  his 
worth  and  describe  his  endurance  of  toil,  hunger,  thirst, 
heat,  cold,  and  the  dangers  and  sufferings  through  which 
he  passed.  He  could  dilate  upon  his  sagacity  and  affec 
tion,  and  his  invariable  response  to  every  wish  of  his  rider. 
He  might  even  imagine  his  thoughts,  through  the  long 
night  marches  and  days  of  battle  through  which  he 
has  passed.  But  I  am  no  artist ;  I  can  only  say  he  is  a 
Confederate  gray.  I  purchased  him  in  the  mountains 
of  Virginia  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  and  he  has  been  my 
patient  follower  ever  since — to  Georgia,  the  Carolinas, 
and  back  to  Virginia.  He  carried  me  through  the  Seven 
Days  battle  around  Richmond,  the  second  Manassas,  at 
Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg,  the  last  day  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  to  Pennsylvania,  at  Gettysburg,  and  back  to 
the  Rappahannock.  From  the  commencement  of  the 
campaign  in  1864  at  Orange,  till  its  close  around  Peters 
burg,  the  saddle  was  scarcely  off  his  back,  as  he  passed 
through  the  fire  of  the  Wildernesss,  Spottsylvania,  Cold 
Harbour,  and  across  the  James  River.  He  was  almost 
in  daily  requisition  in  the  winter  of  1864-65  on  the  long 
line  of  defenses  from  Chickahominy,  north  of  Richmond, 
to  Hatcher's  Run,  south  of  the  Appomattox.  In  the 
campaign  of  1865,  he  bore  me  from  Petersburg  to  the 
final  days  at  Appomattox  Court  House.  You  must  know 
the  comfort  he  is  to  me  in  my  present  retirement.  He  is 


84         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

well  supplied  with  equipments.  Two  sets  have  been 
sent  to  him  from  England,  one  from  the  ladies  of  Balti 
more,  and  one  was  made  for  him  in  Richmond;  but  I 
think  his  favourite  is  the  American  saddle  from  St.  Louis. 
Of  all  his  companions  in  toil,  '  Richmond,'  '  Brown  Roan,' 
'Ajax,'  and  quiet  'Lucy  Long,'  he  is  the  only  one  that 
retained  his  vigour.  The  first  two  expired  under  their 
onerous  burden,  and  the  last  two  failed.  You  can,  I  am 
sure,  from  what  I  have  said,  paint  his  portrait." 

The  general  had  the  strongest  affection  for  Traveller, 
which  he  showed  on  all  occasions,  and  his  allowing  me  to 
ride  him  on  this  long  march  was  a  great  compliment. 
Possibly  he  wanted  to  give  me  a  good  hammering  before 
he  turned  me  over  to  the  cavalry.  During  my  soldier 
life,  so  far,  I  had  been  on  foot,  having  backed  nothing 
more  lively  than  a  tired  artillery  horse;  so  I  mounted 
with  some  misgivings,  though  I  was  very  proud  of  my 
steed.  My  misgivings  were  fully  realised,  for  Traveller 
would  not  walk  a  step.  He  took  a  short,  high  trot — a 
buck-trot,  as  compared  with  a  buck- jump — and  kept  it 
up  to  Fredericksburg,  some  thirty  miles.  Though  young, 
strong,  and  tough,  I  was  glad  when  the  journey  ended. 
This  was  my  first  introduction  to  the  cavalry  service.  I 
think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  I  could  have  walked  the 
distance  with  much  less  discomfort  and  fatigue.  My 
father  having  thus  given  me  a  horse  and  presented  me 
with  one  of  his  swords,  also  supplied  my  purse  so  that  I 
could  get  myself  an  outfit  suitable  to  my  new  position, 
and  he  sent  me  on  to  join  my  command,  stationed 
not  far  away  on  the  Rappahannock,  southward  from 
Fredericksburg. 

As  an  officer  in  the  cavalry  on  the  staff,  I  had  more 
frequent  opportunities  of  seeing  my  father  than  as  a 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER    85 

private  in  the  artillery.  In  the  course  of  duty,  I  was 
sometimes  sent  to  him  to  report  the  condition  of  affairs 
at  the  front,  or  on  the  flank  of  the  army,  and  I  also, 
occasionally,  paid  him  a  visit.  At  these  times,  he  would 
take  me  into  his  tent,  talk  to  me  about  my  mother  and 
sisters,  about  my  horse  and  myself,  or  the  people  and  the 
country  where  my  command  happened  to  be  stationed. 
I  think  my  presence  was  very  grateful  to  him,  and  ho 
seemed  to  brighten  up  when  I  came.  I  remember,  he 
always  took  it  as  a  matter  of  course  that  I  must  be  hungry 
(and  I  was  for  three  years),  so  he  invariably  made  his 
mess-steward,  Bryan,  give  me  something  to  eat,  if  I  did 
not  have  time  to  wait  for  the  regular  meal.  His  head 
quarters  at  this  time,  just  before  the  battle  of  Freder- 
icksburg  and  after,  were  at  a  point  on  the  road  between 
Fredericksburg  and  Hamilton's  Crossing,  selected  on 
account  of  its  accessibility.  Notwithstanding  there  was 
near-by  a  good  house  vacant,  he  lived  in  his  tents.  His 
quarters  were  very  unpretentious,  consisting  of  three 
or  four  "wall-tents"  and  several  more  common  ones. 
They  were  pitched  on  the  edge  of  an  old  pine  field,  near 
a  grove  of  forest  trees  from  which  he  drew  his  supply  of 
fire-wood,  while  the  pines  helped  to  shelter  his  tents 
and  horses  from  the  cold  winds.  Though  from  the  out 
side  they  were  rather  dismal,  especially  through  the  dreary 
winter  time,  within  they  were  cheerful,  and  the  sur 
roundings  as  neat  and  comfortable  as  possible  under  the 
circumstances. 

On  November  24,  1862,  in  a  letter  to  his  daughter 
Mary,  he  writes: 

".  .  .  General  Burnside's  whole  army  is  apparently 
opposite  Fredericksburg,  and  stretches  from  the  Rap- 
pahannock  to  the  Potomac.  What  his  intentions  are  he 


86         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

has  not  yet  disclosed.  I  am  sorry  he  is  in  position  to 
oppress  our  friends  and  citizens  of  the  Northern  Neck. 
He  threatens  to  bombard  Fredericksburg,  and  the  noble 
spirit  displayed  by  its  citizens,  particularly  the  women 
and  children,  has  elicited  my  highest  admiration.  They 
have  been  abandoning  their  homes,  night  and  day,  during 
all  this  inclement  weather,  cheerfully  and  uncomplain 
ingly,  with  only  such  assistance  as  our  wagons  and  ambu 
lances  could  afford,  women,  girls,  children,  trudging 
through  the  mud  and  bivouacking  in  the  open  fields." 

How  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  was  fought  and  won 
all  the  world  has  heard,  and  I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe 
it.  On  December  nth,  the  day  Burnside  commenced 
his  attack,  General  Lee  wrote  to  my  mother : 

".  .  .  The  enemy,  after  bombarding  the  town  of 
Fredericksburg,  setting  fire  to  many  houses  and  knocking 
down  nearly  all  those  along  the  river,  crossed  over  a  large 
force  about  dark,  and  now  occupies  the  town.  We  hold 
the  hills  commanding  it,  and  hope  we  shall  be  able  to 
damage  him  yet.  His  position  and  heavy  guns  command 
the  town  entirely." 

On  December  i6th,  in  another  letter  to  my  mother,  he 
tells  of  the  recrossing  of  the  Federals : 

"  I  had  supposed  they  were  just  preparing  for  battle, 
and  was  saving  our  men  for  the  conflict.  Their  hosts 
crown  the  hill  and  plain  beyond  the  river,  and  their  num 
bers  to  me  are  unknown.  Still  I  felt  the  confidence  we 
could  stand  the  shock,  and  was  anxious  for  the  blow  that 
is  to  fall  on  some  point,  and  was  prepared  to  meet  it  here. 
Yesterday  evening  I  had  my  suspicions  that  they  might 
return  during  the  night,  but  could  not  believe  they  would 
relinquish  their  hopes  after  all  their  boasting  and  prepara 
tion,  and  when  I  say  that  the  latter  is  equal  to  the  former 
you  will  have  some  idea  of  the  magnitude.  This  morn- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER    87 

ing  they  were  all  safe  on  the  north  side  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock.  They  went  as  they  came — in  the  night.  They 
suffered  heavily  as  far  as  the  battle  went,  but  it  did  not  go 
far  enough  to  satisfy  me.  Our  loss  was  comparatively 
slight,  and  I  think  will  not  exceed  two  thousand.  The 
contest  will  have  now  to  be  renewed,  but  on  what  field  I 
cannot  say." 

I  did  not  see  my  father  at  any  time  during  the  fighting.  f 
Some  days  after  it  was  all  over,  I  saw  him,  as  calm  and 
composed  as  if  nothing  unusual  had  happened,  and  he 
never  referred  to  his  great  victory,  except  to  deplore  the 
loss  of  his  brave  officers  and  soldiers  or  the  sufferings 
of  the  sick  and  wounded.  He  repeatedly  referred  to  the 
hardships  so  bravely  endured  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Fredericksburg,  who  had  been  obliged  to  flee  from  the 
town,  the  women  and  children,  the  old  and  the  feeble,  \ 
whose  sufferings  cut  him  to  the  heart.  On  Christmas 
Day  he  writes  to  his  youngest  daughter,  Mildred,  who 
was  at  school  in  North  Carolina : 

".  .  .  I  cannot  tell  you  how  I  long  to  see  you  wherT\ 
a  little  quiet  occurs.  My  thoughts  revert  to  you,  your 
sisters,  and  your  mother ;  my  heart  aches  for  our  reunion. 
Your  brothers  I  see  occasionally.  This  morning  Fitzhugh 
rode  by  with  his  young  aide-de-camp  (Rob)  at  the  head  of 
his  brigade,  on  his  way  up  the  Rappahannock.  You 
must  study  hard,  gain  knowledge,  and  learn  your  duty  to 
God  and  your  neighbour :  that  is  the  great  object  of  life. 
I  have  no  news,  confined  constantly  to  camp,  and  my 
thoughts  occupied  with  its  necessities  and  duties.  I  am, 
however,  happy  in  the  knowledge  that  General  Burnside 
and  army  will  not  eat  their  promised  Christmas  dinner  in  _ 
Richmond  to-day." 

On  the  next  day  he  writes  as  follows  to  his  daughter 
Agnes,  who  was  with  her  mother  in  Richmond : 


88         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"CAMP  FREDERICKSBURG,  December  26,  1862. 
"  My  Precious  Little  Agnes:  I  have  not  heard  of  you  for 
a  long  time.  I  wish  you  were  with  me,  for,  always  soli 
tary,  I  am  sometimes  weary,  and  long  for  the  reunion  of 
my  family  once  again.  But  I  will  not  speak  of  myself,  but 
of  you.  ...  I  have  seen  the  ladies  in  this  vicinity 
only  when  flying  from  the  enemy,  and  it  caused  me 
acute  grief  to  witness  their  exposure  and  suffering.  But 
a  more  noble  spirit  was  never  displayed  anywhere.  The 
faces  of  old  and  young  were  wreathed  with  smiles,  and 
glowed  with  happiness  at  their  sacrifices  for  the  good  of 
their  country.  Many  have  lost  everything.  What  the 
fire  and  shells  of  the  enemy  spared,  their  pillagers  de 
stroyed.  But  God  will  shelter  them,  I  know.  So  much 
heroism  will  not  be  unregarded.  I  can  only  hold  oral 
communication  with  your  sister*,  and  have  forbidden  the 
scouts  to  bring  any  writing,  and  have  taken  back  some 
that  I  had  given  them  for  her.  If  caught,  it  would  com 
promise  them.  They  only  convey  messages.  I  learn  in 
that  way  she  is  well. 

"  Your  devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

I  give  another  letter  he  wrote  on  Christmas  Day, 
besides  the  one  quoted  above,  to  his  daughter,  Mildred. 
It  was  written  to  his  wife,  and  is  interesting  as  giving 
an  insight  into  his  private  feelings  and  views  regarding 
this  great  victory : 

".  .  .  I  will  commence  this  holy  day  by  writing  to 
you.  My  heart  is  filled  with  gratitude  to  Almighty  God 
for  His  unspeakable  mercies  with  which  He  has  blessed  us 
in  this  day,  for  those  He  has  granted  us  from  the  begin 
ning  of  life,  and  particularly  for  those  He  has  vouchsafed 
us  during  the  past  year.  What  should  have  become  of 
us  without  His  crowning  help  and  protection  ?  Oh,  if  our 

*  His  daughter  Mary,  in  King  George  County,  within  the  lines  of 
the  enemy. 


t-     fat 

a  long  time.     I  wish  v,-.- 
tary,  I  am  s,  r,  .  •  ,  '.  ''  *1th  me>  *<*, 

my  familv  4  ?;  an,d  lon?  for  th 

of  you  T  i  l  ml1  not  speak 

"  t 


Iadies  in 

acute  grief  to  Ser  ex6"6'"7'  a"d  ^      «* 

a  more  noble  spirit  vvu<;  n^  T  Ejd  sufferinS-     Bill 

TiJ  r><ao        ^        U  ':  •  £j  T*l_ 

1  and  young  were  writhed  with 

their  country      Marv  ^  nfices  for  the  good  of 

fire  and  sheUs  of  J£  ^^^     What  the 

stroyed.     But  God  y.^i  ,  ^  Pil]a^rs  de- 

fcaow.     So  much 
«nly  hold  oral 

that  I 

Ifcauht 


onixje.is.HJ/  ROBERT  E.  LEE 
Photographed  in  1862  or  '63 

"R  E.  LBB." 

besidt*  t.v  on  Christmas  Day, 

It  was  writta  ^  dau^hter,  Mildred, 

this  ^TftPt  WP^  and  ^WS  A-    ;:  ;:!  o 

>Jo 
*<  — 

•;,  ti.;<,  f,^-,,,    ,        , 


, 

ble  mercies  wi 


us  -during  the  past  Txn?1"  ^     se  ^e  ^as  vouchsafed 

^  without  W\*i     at  should  have  become  of 

^g  help  and  protection?   Oh  if  our 

in  King  George  County  within  ^\ 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  THE  YOUNGER    89 

people  would  only  recognise  it  and  cease  from  vain  self- 
boasting  and  adulation,  how  strong  would  be  my  belief  in 
final  success  and  happiness  to  our  country  !  But  what  a 
cruel  thing  is  war;  to  separate  and  destroy  families  and 
friends,  and  mar  the  purest  joys  and  happiness  God  has 
granted  us  in  this  world;  to  fill  our  hearts  with  hatred 
instead  of  love  for  our  neighbours,  and  to  devastate  the 
fair  face  of  this  beautiful  world  !  I  pray  that,  on  this  day 
when  only  peace  and  good- will  are  preached  to  mankind, 
better  thoughts  may  fill  the  hearts  of  our  enemies  and  turn 
them  to  peace.  Our  army  was  never  in  such  good  health 
and  condition  since  I  have  been  attached  to  it.  I  believe 
they  share  with  me  my  disappointment  that  the  enemy 
did  not  renew  the  combat  on  the  i3th.  I  was  holding 
back  all  day  and  husbanding  our  strength  and  ammunition 
for  the  great  struggle,  for  which  I  thought  I  was  preparing. 
Had  I  divined  that  was  to  have  been  his  only  effort,  he 
would  have  had  more  of  it.  My  heart  bleeds  at  the  death 
of  every  one  of  our  gallant  men." 

One  marked  characteristic  of  my  father  was  his  habit 
of  attending  to  all  business  matters  promptly.  He  was 
never  idle,  and  what  he  had  to  do  he  performed  with  care 
and  precision.  Mr.  Custis,  my  grandfather,  had  made 
him  executor  of  his  will,  wherein  it  was  directed  that  all 
the  slaves  belonging  to  the  estate  should  be  set  free  after 
the  expiration  of  so  many  years.  The  time  had  now 
arrived,  and,  notwithstanding  the  exacting  duties  of  his 
position,  the  care  of  his  suffering  soldiers,  and  his  anxiety 
about  their  future,  immediate  and  distant,  he  proceeded 
according  to  the  law  of  the  land  to  carry  out  the  pro 
visions  of  the  will,  and  had  delivered  to  every  one  of  the 
servants,  where  it  was  possible,  their  manumission  papers. 
From  his  letters  written  at  this  time  I  give  a  few  extracts 
bearing  on  this  subject : 


go         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

".  .  .  As  regards  the  liberation  of  the  people,  I  wish 
to  progress  in  it  as  far  as  I  can.  Those  hired  in  Rich 
mond  can  still  find  employment  there  if  they  choose. 
Those  in  the  country  can  do  the  same  or  remain  on  the 
farms.  I  hope  they  will  all  do  well  and  behave  them 
selves.  I  should  like,  if  I  could,  to  attend  to  their  wants 
and  see  them  placed  to  the  best  advantage.  But  that  is 
impossible.  All  that  choose  can  leave  the  State  before 
the  war  closes.  .  .  . 

".  .  .  I  executed  the  deed  of  manumission  sent  me 
by  Mr.  Caskie,  and  returned  it  to  him.  I  perceived  that 
John  Sawyer  and  James's  names,  among  the  Arlington 
people,  had  been  omitted,  and  inserted  them.  I  fear 
there  are  others  among  the  White  House  lot  which  I  did 
not  discover.  As  to  the  attacks  of  the  Northern  papers, 
I  do  not  mind  them,  and  do  not  think  it  wise  to  make  the 
publication  you  suggest.  If  all  the  names  of  the  people 
at  Arlington  and  on  the  Pamunkey  are  not  embraced  in 
this  deed  I  have  executed,  I  should  like  a  supplementary 
deed  to  be  drawn  up,  containing  all  those  omitted.  They 
are  entitled  to  their  freedom  and  I  wish  to  give  it  to  them. 
Those  that  have  been  carried  away,  I  hope  are  free  and 
happy ;  I  cannot  get  their  papers  to  them,  and  they  do  not 
require  them.  I  will  give  them  if  they  ever  call  for  them. 
It  will  be  useless  to  ask  their  restitution  to  manumit 
them. 


CHAPTER   V 
THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA 

THE  GENERAL'S  SYMPATHY  FOR  HIS  SUFFERING  SOLDIERS 
— CHANCELLORSVILLE — DEATH  OF  "  STONEWALL" 
JACKSON — GENERAL  FITZHUGH  LEE  WOUNDED  AND 

CAPTURED — ESCAPE       OF      HIS       BROTHER      ROBERT 

GETTYSBURG — RELIGIOUS       REVIVAL — INFANTRY     RE 
VIEW — UNSATISFACTORY    COMMISSARIAT 

DURING  this  winter,  which  was  a  very  severe  one,  the 
sufferings  of  General  Lee's  soldiers  on  account  of  insuf 
ficient  shelter  and  clothing,  the  scant  rations  for  man  and 
beast,  the  increasing  destitution  throughout  the  country, 
and  his  inability  to  better  these  conditions,  bore  heavily 
upon  him.  But  he  was  bright  and  cheerful  to  those 
around  him,  never  complaining  of  any  one  nor  about 
anything,  and  often  indulging  in  his  quaint  humour, 
especially  with  the  younger  officers,  as  when  he  remarked 
to  one  of  them,  who  complained  of  the  tough  biscuit  at 
breakfast : 

"You  ought  not  to  mind  that;  they  will  stick  by  you 
the  longer!" 

His  headquarters  continued  all  the  winter  at  the  same 
place,  and  with  stove  and  fire-places  in  the  tents,  the 
General  and  his  military  family  managed  to  keep  fairly 
comfortable.  On  February  6,  1863,  he  wrote  to  his  daugh 
ter,  Agnes,  from  this  camp : 


92         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"CAMP  FREDERICKSBURG,  February  6,  1863. 
".  .  .  I  read  yesterday,  my  precious  daughter,  your 
letter,  and  grieved  very  much  when  last  in  Richmond  at 
not  seeing  you.  My  movements  are  so  uncertain  that  I 
cannot  be  relied  on  for  anything.  The  only  place  I  am 
to  be  found  is  in  camp,  and  I  am  so  cross  now  that  I  am 
not  worth  seeing  anywhere.  Here  you  will  have  to  take 
me  with  the  three  stools — the  snow,  the  rain,  and  the 
mud.  The  storm  of  the  last  twenty -four  hours  has  added 
to  our  stock  of  all,  and  we  are  now  in  a  floating  condition. 
But  the  sun  and  the  wind  will  carry  all  off  in  time,  and 
then  we  shall  appreciate  our  relief.  Our  horses  and  mules 
suffer  the  most.  They  have  to  bear  the  cold  and  rain, 
tug  through  the  mud,  and  suffer  all  the  time  with  hunger. 
The  roads  are  wretched,  almost  impassable.  I  heard  of 
Mag  lately.  One  of  our  scouts  brought  me  a  card  of 
Margaret  Stuart's  with  a  pair  of  gauntlets  directed  to 
*  Cousin  Robert.'  ...  I  have  no  news.  General 
Hooker  is  obliged  to  do  something.  I  do  not  know  what 
it  will  be.  He  is  playing  the  Chinese  game,  trying  what 
frightening  will  do.  He  runs  out  his  guns,  starts  his 
wagons  and  troops  up  and  down  the  river,  and  creates  an 
excitement  generally.  Our  men  look  on  in  wonder,  give 
a  cheer,  and  all  again  subsides  in  statu  quo  ante  bellum.  I 
wish  you  were  here  with  me  to-day.  You  would  have  to 
sit  by  this  little  stove,  look  out  at  the  rain,  and  keep  your 
self  dry.  But  here  come,  in  all  the  wet,  the  adjutants- 
general  with  the  papers.  I  must  stop  and  go  to  work. 
See  how  kind  God  is;  we  have  plenty  to  do  in  good 
weather  and  bad.  .  .  ." 

"  Your  devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


On  February  23d,  he  writes  to  Mrs.  Lee: 

"CAMP  FREDERICKSBURG,  February  23,  1863. 
"The  weather  is  now  very  hard  upon  our  poor  bush- 
men.     This  morning  the  whole  country  is  covered  with  a 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA      93 

mantle  of  snow  fully  a  foot  deep.  It  was  nearly  up  to 
my  knees  as  I  stepped  out  this  morning,  and  our  poor 
horses  were  enveloped.  We  have  dug  them  out  and 
opened  our  avenues  a  little,  but  it  will  be  terrible  and  the 
roads  impassable.  No  cars  from  Richmond  yesterday. 
I  fear  our  short  rations  for  man  and  horse  will  have  to  be 
curtailed.  Our  enemies  have  their  troubles  too.  They 
are  very  strong  immediately  in  front,  but  have  with 
drawn  their  troops  above  and  below  us  back  toward 
Acquia  Creek.  I  owe  Mr.  F.  J.  Hooker*  no  thanks  for 
keeping  me  here.  He  ought  to  have  made  up  his  mind 

long  ago  what  to  do 24th.     The  cars  have  arrived  and 

brought  me  a  young  French  officer,  full  of  vivacity,  and 
ardent  for  service  with  me.  I  think  the  appearance  of 
things  will  cool  him.  If  they  do  not,  the  night  will,  for 
he  brought  no  blankets. 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  dreary  winter  gradually  passed  away.  Toward 
the  last  of  April,  the  two  armies,  which  had  been  opposite 
each  other  for  four  months,  began  to  move,  and,  about 
the  first  of  May,  the  greatest  of  General  Lee's  battles 
was  fought.  My  command  was  on  the  extreme  left,  and, 
as  Hooker  crossed  the  river,  we  followed  a  raiding  party 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry  over  toward  the  James  River 
above  Richmond ;  so  I  did  not  see  my  father  at  any  time 
during  the  several  days'  fighting.  The  joy  of  our  victory 
at  Chancellorsville  was  saddened  by  the  death  of  "  Stone 
wall"  Jackson.  His  loss  was  the  heaviest  blow  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  ever  sustained.  To  Jackson's 
note  telling  him  he  was  wounded,  my  father  replied : 

"  I  cannot  express  my  regret  at  the  occurrence.  Could 
I  have  directed  events,  I  should  have  chosen  for  the  good 
of  the  country  to  have  been  disabled  in  your  stead.  I 

*"  Fighting  Joe"  was  Hooker's  popular  sobriquet  in  the  Federal 
army. 


94         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

congratulate  you  on  the  victory,  which  is  due  to  your 
skill  and  energy." 

Jackson  said,  when  this  was  read  to  him, 

"Better  that  ten  Jacksons  should  fall  than  one  Lee." 

Afterward,   when  it  was  reported  that  Jackson  was 

doing  well,  General  Lee  playfully  sent  him  word : 

"  You  are  better  off  than  I  am,  for  while  you  have  only 

lost  your  left,  I  have  lost  my  right  arm." 
Then,  hearing  that  he  was  worse,  he  said: 
"  Tell  him  that  I  am  praying  for  him  as  I  believe  I  have 

never  prayed  for  myself." 

After  his  death,  General  Lee  writes  to  my  mother,  on 

May  nth: 

".  .  .  In  addition  to  the  deaths  of  officers  and  friends 
consequent  upon  the  late  battles,  you  will  see  that  we 
have  to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  great  and  good  Jackson. 
Any  victory  would  be  dear  at  such  a  price.  His  remains 
go  to  Richmond  to-day.  I  know  not  how  to  replace 
him.  God's  will  be  done  !  I  trust  He  will  raise  up  some 
one  in  his  place.  .  .  ." 

Jones,  in  his  Memoirs,  says:  "To  one  of  his  officers, 
after  Jackson's  death,  he  [General  Lee]  said:  'I  had 
such  implicit  confidence  in  Jackson's  skill  and  energy 
that  I  never  troubled  myself  to  give  him  detailed 
instructions.  The  most  general  suggestions  were  all 
that  he  needed.'" 

To  one  of  his  aides,  who  came  to  his  tent,  April  2gth, 
to  inform  him  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  Rappa- 
hannock  River  in  heavy  force,  General  Lee  made  the 
playful  reply: 

"  Well,  I  heard  firing,  and  I  was  beginning  to  think  it  was 
time  some  of  you  lazy  young  fellows  were  coming  to  tell 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA       95 

me  what  it  was  all  about.  Say  to  General  Jackson  that 
he  knows  just  as  well  what  to  do  with  the  enemy  as  I  do." 

Jackson  said  of  Lee,  when  it  was  intimated  by  some,  at 
the  time  he  first  took  command,  that  he  was  slow: 

"He  is  cautious.  He  ought  to  be.  But  he  is  not 
slow.  Lee  is  a  phenomenon.  He  is  the  only  man  whom 
I  would  follow  blindfold/' 

As  the  story  of  these  great  men  year  by  year  is  made 
plainer  to  the  world,  their  love,  trust,  and  respect  for 
each  other  will  be  better  understood.  As  commander 
and  lieutenant  they  were  exactly  suited.  When  General 
Lee  wanted  a  movement  made  and  gave  Jackson  an 
outline  of  his  plans  and  the  object  to  be  gained,  it  was 
performed  promptly,  well,  and  thoroughly,  if  it  was  pos 
sible  for  flesh  and  blood  to  do  it. 

At  the  end  of  May,  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
rested  and  strengthened,  was  ready  for  active  operations. 
On  May  3ist  General  Lee  writes  to  Mrs.  Lee: 

".  .  .  General  Hooker  has  been  very  daring  this 
past  week,  and  quite  active.  He  has  not  said  what  he 
intends  to  do,  but  is  giving  out  by  his  movements  that 
he  designs  crossing  the  Rappahannock.  I  hope  we  may 
be  able  to  frustrate  his  plans,  in  part,  if  not  in  whole. 
.  .  .  I  pray  that  our  merciful  Father  in  Heaven  may 
protect  and  direct  us !  In  that  case,  I  fear  no  odds  and. 
no  numbers." 

About  June  5th  most  of  the  army  was  gathered  around 
Culpeper.  Its  efficiency,  confidence,  and  morale  were 
never  better.  On  June  yth  the  entire  cavalry  corps  was 
reviewed  on  the  plain  near  Brandy  Station  in  Culpeper 
by  General  Lee.  We  had  been  preparing  ourselves  for 
this  event  for  some  days,  cleaning,  mending  and  polishing, 
and  I  remember  we  were  very  proud  of  our  appearance. 


96         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

In  fact,  it  was  a  grand  sight — about  eight  thousand  well- 
mounted  men  riding  by  their  beloved  commander,  first 
passing  him  in  a  walk  and  then  in  a  trot.  He  writes  to 
my  mother  next  day — June  8,  1863: 

".     .     .     I  reviewed  the  cavalry  in  this  section  yes 
terday.     It  was  a  splendid  sight.     The  men  and  horses 
looked    well.     They    have    recuperated    since   last    fall. 
Stuart*  was  in  all  his  glory.     Your  sons  and  nephewsf 
were  well  and  flourishing.     The  country  here  looks  very    : 
green  and  pretty,  notwithstanding  the  ravages  of   war. 
What  a  beautiful  world  God,  in  His  loving  kindness  to 
His  creatures,  has  given  us !     What  a  shame  that  men 
endowed  with  reason   and   knowledge    of   right   should  ; 
mar  His  gifts.     .     .     ." 

The  next  day,  June  gth,  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  supported  by  infantry,  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock  and  attacked  General  Stuart.  The  conflict  lasted 
until  dark,  when 

"The  enemy  was  compelled  to  recross  the  river,  with 
heavy  loss,  leaving  about  five  hundred  prisoners,  three 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  several  colours,  in  our  hands." 

During  the  engagement,  about  3  p.  M.,  my  brother, 
General  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  my  commanding  officer,  was 
severely  wounded.  In  a  letter  dated  the  nth  of  the 
month,  my  father  writes  to  my  mother  : 

".  .  .  My  supplications  continue  to  ascend  for 
you,  my  children,  and  my  country.  When  I  last  wrote 
I  did  not  suppose  that  Fitzhugh  would  be  so  soon  sent  to 
the  rear  disabled,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  for  a  short  time. 
I  saw  him  the  night  after  the  battle — indeed,  met  him 

*J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  commanding  cavalry  corps. 
fTwo  sons  and  three  nephews. 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA       97 

on  the  field  as  they  were  bringing  him  from  the  front. 
He  is  young  and  healthy,  and  I  trust  will  soon  be  up 
again.  He  seemed  to  be  more  concerned  about  his  brave 
men  and  officers,  who  had  fallen  in  the  battle,  than 
about  himself.  .  .  ." 

It  was  decided,  the  next  day,  to  send  my  brother  to 
"Hickory  Hill,"  the  home  of  Mr.  W.  F.  Wickham,  in 
Hanover  County,  about  twenty  miles  from  Richmond, 
and  I  was  put  in  charge  of  him  to  take  him  there  and 
to  be  with  him  until  his  wound  should  heal.  Thus  it 
happened  that  I  did  not  meet  my  father  again  until  after 
Gettysburg  had  been  fought,  and  the  army  had  recrossed 
into  Virginia,  almost  to  the  same  place  I  had  left  it.  My 
father  wrote  my  brother  a  note  the  morning  after  he  was 
wounded,  before  he  left  Culpeper.  It  shows  his  con 
sideration  and  tenderness: 

"  My  Dear  Son:  I  send  you  a  despatch,  received  from 
C.  last  night.  I  hope  you  are  comfortable  this  morning. 
I  wish  I  could  see  you,  but  I  cannot.  Take  care  of  your 
self,  and  make  haste  and  get  well  and  return.  Though  I 
scarcely  ever  saw  you,  it  was  a  great  comfort  to  know 
that  you  were  near  and  with  me.  I  could  think  of  you 
and  hope  to  see  you.  May  we  yet  meet  in  peace  and 
happiness.  .  .  ." 

In  a  letter  to  my  brother's  wife,  written  on  the  nth, 
his  love  and  concern  for  both  of  them  are  plainly  shown : 

"  I  am  so  grieved,  my  dear  daughter,  to  send  Fitzhugh 
to  you  wounded.  But  I  am  so  grateful  that  his  wound 
is  of  a  character  to  give  us  full  hope  of  a  speedy  recovery. 
With  his  youth  and  strength  to  aid  him,  and  your  tender 
care  to  nurse  him,  I  trust  he  will  soon  be  well  again.  I  \ 
know  that  you  will  unite  with  me  in  thanks  to  Almighty 
God,  who  has  so  often  sheltered  him  in  the  hour  of  danger, 


98         RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

for  his  recent  deliverance,  and  lift  up  your  whole  heart 
in  praise  to  Him  for  sparing  a  life  so  dear  to  us,  while 
enabling  him  to  do  his  duty  in  the  station  in  which  He 
had  placed  him.  Ask  him  to  join  us  in  supplication  that 
He  may  always  cover  him  with  the  shadow  of  His  almighty 
arm,  and  teach  him  that  his  only  refuge  is  in  Him,  the 
greatness  of  whose  mercy  reacheth  unto  the  heavens, 
and  His  truth  unto  the  clouds.  As  some  good  is  always 
mixed  with  the  evil  in  this  world,  you  will  now  have  him 
with  you  for  a  time,  and  I  shall  look  to  you  to  cure  him 
soon  and  send  him  back  to  me.  .  .  ." 

My  brother  reached  "  Hickory  Hill"  quite  comfortably, 
and  his  wound  commenced  to  heal  finely.  His  wife 
joined  him,  my  mother  and  sisters  came  up  from  Rich 
mond,  and  he  had  all  the  tender  care  he  could  wish.  He 
occupied  "the  office"  in  the  yard,  while  I  slept  in  the 
room  adjoining  and  became  quite  an  expert  nurse. 
About  two  weeks  after  our  arrival,  one  lovely  morning 
as  we  all  came  out  from  the  breakfast  table,  stepping 
into  the  front  porch  with  Mrs.  Wickham,  we  were  much 
surprised  to  hear  two  or  three  shots  down  in  the  direction 
of  the  outer  gate,  where  there  was  a  large  grove  of  hickory 
trees.  Mrs.  Wickham  said  some  one  must  be  after  her 
squirrels,  as  there  were  many  in  those  woods,  and  she 
asked  me  to  run  down  and  stop  whoever  was  shooting 
them.  I  got  my  hat,  and  at  once  started  off  to  do  her 
bidding.  I  had  not  gone  over  a  hundred  yards  toward 
the  grove,  when  I  saw,  coming  up  at  a  gallop  to  the  gate 
I  was  making  for,  five  or  six  Federal  cavalrymen.  I 
knew  what  it  meant  at  once,  so  I  rushed  back  to  the 
office  and  told  my  brother.  He  immediately  understood 
the  situation  and  directed  me  to  get  away — said  I  could 
do  no  good  by  staying,  that  the  soldiers  could  not  and 
would  not  hurt  him,  and  there  was  nothing  to  be  gained 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA       99 

by  my  falling  into  their  hands;  but  that,  on  the  con 
trary,  I  might  do  a  great  deal  of  good  by  eluding 
them,  making  my  way  to  "North  Wales,"  a  plantation 
across  the  Pamunkey  River,  and  saving  our  horses. 

So  I  ran  out,  got  over  the  fence  and  behind  a  thick 
hedge,  just  as  I  heard  the  tramp  and  clank  of  quite  a 
body  of  troopers  riding  up.  Behind  this  hedge  I  crept 
along  until  I  reached  a  body  of  woods,  where  I  was  per 
fectly  safe.  From  a  hill  near  by  I  ascertained  that  there 
was  a  large  raiding  party  of  Federal  cavalry  in  the  main 
road,  and  the  heavy  smoke  ascending  from  the  Court 
House,  about  three  miles  away,  told  me  that  they  were 
burning  the  railroad  buildings  at  that  place.  After 
waiting  until  I  thought  the  coast  was  clear,  I  worked  my 
way  very  cautiously  back  to  the  vicinity  of  the  house 
to  find  out  what  was  going  on.  Fortunately,  I  took 
advantage  of  the  luxuriant  shrubbery  in  the  old  garden 
at  the  rear  of  the  house,  and  when  I  looked  out  from  the 
last  box  bush  that  screened  me,  about  twenty  yards  from 
the  back  porch,  I  perceived  that  I  was  too  soon,  for  there 
were  standing,  sitting  and  walking  about  quite  a  number 
of  the  bluecoats.  I  jumped  back  behind  the  group  of 
box  trees,  and,  flinging  myself  £at  under  a  thick  fir, 
crawled  close  up  to  the  trunk  under  the  low-hanging 
branches,  and  lay  there  for  some  hours. 

I  saw  my  brother  brought  out  from  the  office  on  a 
mattress,  and  placed  in  the  "Hickory  Hill"  carriage,  to 
which  was  hitched  Mr.  Wickham's  horses,  and  then  saw 
him  driven  away,  a  soldier  on  the  box  and  a  mounted 
guard  surrounding  him.  He  was  carried  to  the  "White 
House"  in  this  way,  and  then  sent  by  water  to  Fortress 
Monroe.  This  party  had  been  sent  out  especially  to 
capture  him,  and  he  was  held  as  a  hostage  (for  the 


ioo       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

safety  of  some  Federal  officers  we  had  captured)  for  nine 
long,  weary  months. 

The  next  day  I  found  out  that  all  the  horses  but  one 
had  been  saved  by  the  faithfulness  of  our  servants.  The 
one  lost,  my  brother's  favourite  and  best  horse,  was 
ridden  straight  into  the  column  by  Scott,  a  negro  servant, 
who  had  him  out  for  exercise.  Before  he  knew  our 
enemies,  he  and  the  horse  were  prisoners.  Scott  watched 
his  opportunity,  and,  not  being  guarded,  soon  got  away. 
By  crawling  through  a  culvert,  under  the  road,  while  the 
cavalry  was  passing  along,  he  made  his  way  into  a  deep 
ditch  in  the  adjoining  field,  thence  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  farm  where  the  rest  of  the  horses  were,  and  hurried 
them  off  to  a  safe  place  in  the  woods,  just  as  the  Federal 
cavalry  rode  up  to  get  them. 

In  a  letter  dated  Culpeper,  July  26th,  to  my  brother's 
wife,  my  father  thus  urges  resignation : 

"  I  received,  last  night,  my  darling  daughter,  your  let 
ter  of  the  1 8th  from  'Hickory  Hill.'  .  .  .  You  must 
not  be  sick  while  Fitzhugh  is  away,  or  he  will  be  more 
restless  under  his  separation.  Get  strong  and  hearty  by 
his  return,  that  he  may  the  more  rejoice  at  the  sight  of 
you.  ...  I  can  appreciate  your  distress  at  Fitzhugh's 
situation.  I  deeply  sympathise  with  it,  and  in  the  lone 
hours  of  the  night  I  groan  in  sorrow  at  his  captivity  and 
separation  from  you.  But  we  must  bear  it,  exercise  all 
our  patience,  and  do  nothing  to  aggravate  the  evil.  This, 
besides  injuring  ourselves,  would  rejoice  our  enemies  and 
be  sinful  in  the  eyes  of  God.  In  His  own  good  time  He 
will  relieve  us  and  make  all  things  work  together  for  our 
good,  if  we  give  Him  our  love  and  place  in  Him  our  trust. 
I  can  see  no  harm  that  can  result  from  Fitzhugh's  capture, 
except  his  detention.  I  feel  assured  that  he  will  be  well 
attended  to.  He  will  be  in  the  hands  of  old  army  officers 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA     101 

and  surgeons,  most  of  whom  are  men  of  principle  and 
humanity.  His  wound,  I  understand,  has  not  been 
injured  by  his  removal,  but  is  doing  well.  Nothing  would 
do  him  more  harm  than  for  him  to  learn  that  you  were 
sick  and  sad.  How  could  he  get  well  ?  So  cheer  up  and 
prove  your  fortitude  and  patriotism.  .  .  .  You  may 
think  of  Fitzhugh  and  love  him  as  much  as  you  please, 
but  do  not  grieve  over  him  or  grow  sad." 

From  Williamsport,  to  my  mother,  he  thus  writes  of  his 
son's  capture: 

"  I  have  heard  with  great  grief  that  Fitzhugh  has  been 
captured  by  the  enemy.  Had  not  expected  that  he  would 
be  taken  from  his  bed  and  carried  off,  but  we  must  bear 
this  additional  affliction  with  fortitude  and  resignation, 
and  not  repine  at  the  will  of  God.  It  will  eventuate  in 
some  good  that  we  know  not  of  now.  We  must  bear  our 
labours  and  hardships  manfully.  Our  noble  men  are 
cheerful  and  confident.  I  constantly  remember  you  in 
my  thoughts  and  prayers." 

On  July  1 2th,  from  near  Hagerstown,  he  writes  again 
about  him: 

"The  consequences  of  war  are  horrid  enough  at  best, 
surrounded  by  all  the  ameliorations  of  civilisation  and 
Christianity.  I  am  very  sorry  for  the  injuries  done  the 
family  at  Hickory  Hill,  and  particularly  that  our  dear 
old  Uncle  Williams,  in  his  eightieth  year,  should  be  sub 
jected  to  such  treatment.  But  we  cannot  help  it,  and 
must  endure  it.  You  will,  however,  learn  before  this 
reaches  you  that  our  success  at  Gettysburg  was  not  so 
great  as  reported — in  fact,  that  we  failed  to  drive  the 
enemy  from  his  position,  and  that  our  army  withdrew  to 
the  Potomac.  Had  the  river  not  unexpectedly  risen,  all 
would  have  been  well  with  us ;  but  God,  in  His  all-wise 
providence,  willed  otherwise,  and  our  communications 


102       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

have  been  interrupted  and  almost  cut  off.  The  waters 
have  subsided  to  about  four  feet,  and,  if  they  continue, 
by  to-morrow,  I  hope,  our  communications  will  be  open. 
I  trust  that  a  merciful  God,  our  only  hope  and  refuge,  will 
not  desert  us  in  this  hour  of  need,  and  will  deliver  us  by 
His  almighty  hand,  that  the  whole  world  may  recognise 
His  power  and  all  hearts  be  lifted  up  in  adoration  and 
praise  of  His  unbounded  loving-kindness.  We  must, 
however,  submit  to  His  almighty  will,  whatever  that  may 
be.  May  God  guide  and  protect  us  all  is  my  constant 
prayer." 

In  1868,  in  a  letter  to  Major  Wm.  M.  McDonald,  of 
Berryville,  Clarke  County,  Virginia,  who  was  intending 
to  write  a  school  history,  and  had  written  to  my  father, 
asking  for  information  about  some  of  his  great  battles,  the 
following  statement  appears : 

"As  to  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  I  must  again  refer  you 
to  the  official  accounts.  Its  loss  was  occasioned  by  a 
combination  of  circumstances.  It  was  commenced  in  the 
absence  of  correct  intelligence.  It  was  continued  in  the 
effort  to  overcome  the  difficulties  by  which  we  were  sur 
rounded,  and  it  would  have  been  gained  could  one  deter 
mined  and  united  blow  have  been  delivered  by  our  whole 
line.  As  it  was,  victory  trembled  in  the  balance  for  three 
days,  and  the  battle  resulted  in  the  infliction  of  as  great 
an  amount  of  injury  as  was  received  and  in  frustrating  the 
Federal  campaign  for  the  season." 

After  my  brother's  capture  I  went  to  Richmond,  taking 
with  me  his  horses  and  servants.  After  remaining  there 
a  short  time,  I  mounted  my  mare  and  started  back  to  the 
army,  which  I  found  at  its  old  camping-ground  in  Cul- 
peper.  I  stopped  at  first  for  a  few  days  with  my  father. 
He  was  very  glad  to  see  me,  and  I  could  tell  him  all  about 
my  mother  and  sisters,  and  many  other  friends  whom  I 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA     103 

had  just  left  in  Richmond.  He  appeared  to  be  unchanged 
in  manner  and  appearance.  The  disappointment  in  the 
Gettysburg  campaign,  to  which  he  alludes  in  his  letter  to 
my  mother,  was  not  shown  in  anything  he  said,  or  did. 
He  was  calm  and  dignified  with  all,  at  times  bright  and 
cheerful,  and  always  had  a  playful  smile  and  a  pleasant 
word  for  those  about  him.  The  army  lay  inactive,  along 
the  line  of  the  Rappahannock  and  the  Rapidan  for  two 
months,  watching  the  enemy,  who  was  in  our  front.  We 
were  very  anxious  to  attack  or  to  be  attacked,  but  each 
general  desired  to  fight  on  ground  of  his  own  choosing. 

During  this  period,  and  indeed  at  all  times,  my  father 
was  fully  employed.  Besides  the  care  of  his  own  imme 
diate  command,  he  advised  with  the  President  and  Secre 
tary  of  War  as  to  the  movements  and  dispositions  of  the 
other  armies  in  the  Confederacy.  In  looking  over  his  cor 
respondence  one  is  astonished  at  the  amount  of  it  and  at 
its  varied  character.  He  always  answered  all  letters 
addressed  to  him,  from  whatever  source,  if  it  was  possible. 
During  this  winter  he  devoted  himself  especially  to  looking 
after  the  welfare  of  his  troops,  their  clothing,  shoes,  and 
rations,  all  three  of  which  were  becoming  very  scarce. 
Often,  indeed,  his  army  had  only  a  few  days'  rations  in 
sight.  Here  are  some  letters  written  to  the  authorities, 
showing  how  he  was  hampered  in  his  movements  by  the 
deficiencies  existing  in  the  quartermaster's  and  com 
missary  departments.  To  the  Quartermaster-General, 
at  Richmond,  he  writes,  October,  1863,  after  his  move 
ment  around  General  Meade's  right,  to  Manassas: 

".  .  .  The  want  of  the  supplies  of  shoes,  clothing  and 
blankets  is  very  great.  Nothing  but  my  unwillingness  to 
expose  the  men  to  the  hardships  that  would  have  resulted 


io4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

from  moving  them  into  Loudoun  in  their  present  con 
dition  induced  me  to  return  to  the  Rappahannock.  But 
I  was  averse  to  marching  them  over  the  rough  roads  oi 
that  region,  at  a  season,  too,  when  frosts  are  certain  and 
snows  probable,  unless  they  were  better  provided  to 
encounter  them  without  suffering.  I  should,  otherwise, 
have  endeavoured  to  detain  General  Meade  near  the 
Potomac,  if  I  could  not  throw  him  to  the  north  side." 

In  a  letter  of  the  same  time  to  the  Honourable  James  A. 
Seddon,  Secretary  of  War : 

".  .  .  If  General  Meade  is  disposed  to  remain  quiet 
where  he  is,  it  was  my  intention,  provided  the  army  could 
be  supplied  with  clothing,  again  to  advance  and  threaten 
his  position.  Nothing  prevented  my  continuing  in  his 
front  but  the  destitute  condition  of  the  men,  thousands 
of  whom  are  barefooted,  a  greater  number  partially  shod, 
and  nearly  all  without  overcoats,  blankets,  or  warm 
clothing.  I  think  the  sublimest  sight  of  war  was  the 
cheerfulness  and  alacrity  exhibited  by  this  army  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  enemy  under  all  the  trials  and  privations 
to  which  it  was  exposed.  .  .  ." 

Later  on,  in  January,  when  the  severe  weather  com 
menced,  he  again  writes  to  the  Quartermaster-General 
on  the  same  subject: 

"  General:  The  want  of  shoes  and  blankets  in  this  army 
continues  to  cause  much  suffering  and  to  impair  its  effi 
ciency.  In  one  regiment  I  am  informed  that  there  are 
only  fifty  men  with  serviceable  shoes,  and  a  brigade  that 
recently  went  on  picket  was  compelled  to  leave  several 
hundred  men  in  camp,  who  were  unable  to  bear  the  ex 
posure  of  duty,  being  destitute  of  shoes  and  blankets. 
.  The  supply,  by  running  the  blockade,  has  become 
so  precarious  that  I  think  we  should  turn  our  attention 
chiefly  to  our  own  resources,  and  I  should  like  to  be 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA     105 

informed  how  far  the  latter  can  be  counted  upon.  .  .  . 
I  trust  that  no  efforts  will  be  spared  to  develop  our  own 
resources  of  supply,  as  a  further  dependence  upon  those 
from  abroad  can  result  in  nothing  but  increase  of  suffering 
and  want.  I  am,  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE,  General." 

There  was  at  this  time  a  great  revival  of  religion  in  the 
army.  My  father  became  much  interested  in  it,  and  did 
what  he  could  to  promote  in  his  camps  all  sacred  exer 
cises.  Reverend  J.  W.  Jones,  in  his  "Personal  Reminis 
cences  of  General  R.  E.  Lee,"  says: 

"General  Lee's  orders  and  reports  always  gratefully 
recognised  '  The  Lord  of  Hosts '  as  the  '  Giver  of  Victory, ' 
and  expressed  an  humble  dependence  upon  and  trust  in 
Him." 

All  his  correspondence  shows  the  same  devout  feeling. 
On  August  13,  1863,  he  issued  the  following  order: 

"HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA, 

"August  13,  1863. 

"The  President  of  the  Confederate  States  has,  in  the 
name  of  the  people,  appointed  August  2ist  as  a  day  of 
fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer.  A  strict  observance 
of  the  day  is  enjoined  upon  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  this 
army.  All  military  duties,  except  such  as  are  absolutely 
necessary,  will  be  suspended.  The  commanding  officers 
of  brigades  and  regiments  are  requested  to  cause  divine 
services,  suitable  to  the  occasion,  to  be  performed  in  their 
respective  commands.  Soldiers  !  we  have  sinned  against 
Almighty  God.  We  have  forgotten  His  signal  mercies, 
and  have  cultivated  a  revengeful,  haughty,  and  boastful 
spirit.  We  have  not  remembered  that  the  defenders  of  a 
just  cause  should  be  pure  in  His  eyes ;  that '  our  times  are 


106       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

in  His  hands/  and  we  have  relied  too  much  on  our  own 
arms  for  the  achievement  of  our  independence.  God  is 
our  only  refuge  and  our  strength.  Let  us  humble 
ourselves  before  Him.  Let  us  confess  our  many  sins,  and 
beseech  Him  to  give  us  a  higher  courage,  a  purer  patriot 
ism,  and  more  determined  will ;  that  He  will  convert  the 
hearts  of  our  enemies ;  that  He  will  hasten  the  time  when 
war,  with  its  sorrows  and  sufferings,  shall  cease,  and  that 
He  will  give  us  a  name  and  place  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth. 

"R.  E.  LEE,  General." 

His  was  a  practical,  every-day  religion,  which  supported 
him  all  through  his  life,  enabled  him  to  bear  with  equa 
nimity  every  reverse  of  fortune,  and  to  accept  her  gifts 
without  undue  elation.  During  this  period  of  rest,  so 
unusual  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  several  reviews 
were  held  before  the  commanding  general.  I  remember 
being  present  when  that  of  the  Third  Army  Corps,  General 
A.  P.  Hill  commanding,  took  place.  Some  of  us  young 
cavalrymen,  then  stationed  near  the  Rappahannock,  rode 
over  to  Orange  Court  House  to  see  this  grand  military 
pageant.  From  all  parts  of  the  army,  officers  and  men 
who  could  get  leave  came  to  look  on,  and  from  all  the  sur 
rounding  country  the  people,  old  and  young,  ladies  and 
children,  came  in  every  pattern  of  vehicle  and  on  horse 
back,  to  see  twenty  thousand  of  that  "incomparable 
infantry  "  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  pass  in  review 
before  their  great  commander. 

The  General  was  mounted  on  Traveller,  looking  very 
proud  of  his  master,  who  had  on  sash  and  sword,  which 
he  very  rarely  wore,  a  pair  of  new  cavalry  gauntlets,  and, 
I  think,  a  new  hat.  At  any  rate,  he  looked  unusually  fine, 
and  sat  his  horse  like  a  perfect  picture  of  grace  and  power. 
The  infantry  was  drawn  up  in  column  by  divisions,  with 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA     107 

their  bright  muskets  all  glittering  in  the  sun,  their  battle- 
flags  standing  straight  out  before  the  breeze,  and  their 
bands  playing,  awaiting  the  inspection  of  the  General, 
before  they  broke  into  column  by  companies  and  marched 
past  him  in  review.  When  all  was  ready,  General  Hill 
and  staff  rode  up  to  General  Lee,  and  the  two  generals, 
with  their  respective  staffs,  galloped  around  front  and 
rear  of  each  of  the  three  divisions  standing  motionless  on 
the  plain.  As  the  cavalcade  reached  the  head  of  each 
division,  its  commanding  officer  joined  in  and  followed 
as  far  as  the  next  division,  so  that  there  was  a  continual 
infusion  of  fresh  groups  into  the  original  one  all  along 
the  lines.  Traveller  started  with  a  long  lope,  and  never 
changed  his  stride.  His  rider  sat  erect  and  calm,  not 
noticing  anything  but  the  gray  lines  of  men  whom  he 
knew  so  well.  The  pace  was  very  fast,  as  there  were 
nine  good  miles  to  go,  and  the  escort  began  to  become 
less  and  less,  dropping  out  one  by  one  from  different 
causes  as  Traveller  raced  along  without  a  check.  When 
the  General  drew  up,  after  this  nine-mile  gallop,  under 
the  standard  at  the  re  vie  wing-stand,  flushed  with  the 
exercise  as  well  as  with  pride  in  his  brave  men,  he  raised 
his  hat  and  saluted.  Then  arose  a  shout  of  applause 
and  admiration  from  the  entire  assemblage,  the  memory 
of  which  to  this  day  moistens  the  eye  of  every  old 
soldier.  The  corps  was  then  passed  in  review  at  a 
quick-step,  company  front.  It  was  a  most  imposing 
sight.  After  it  was  all  over,  my  father  rode  up  to  several 
carriages  whose  occupants  he  knew  and  gladdened  them 
by  a  smile,  a  word,  or  a  shake  of  the  hand.  He  found 
several  of  us  young  officers  with  some  pretty  cousins  of 
his  from  Richmond,  and  he  was  very  bright  and  cheerful, 
joking  us  young  people  about  each  other.  His  letters  to 


io8       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

my  mother  and  sister  this  summer  and  fall  help  to  give 
an  insight  into  his  thoughts  and  feelings.  On  July  i5th, 
from  Bunker  Hill,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  he  says  : 

".  .  .  The  army  has  returned  to  Virginia.  Its 
return  is  rather  sooner  than  I  had  originally  contemplated, 
but,  having  accomplished  much  of  what  I  proposed  on 
leaving  the  Rappahannock — namely,  relieving  the  valley 
of  the  presence  of  the  enemy  and  drawing  his  army 
north  of  the  Potomac — I  determined  to  recross  the  latter 
river.  The  enemy,  after  centering  his  forces  in  our 
front,  began  to  fortify  himself  in  his  position  and  bring 
up  his  troops,  militia,  etc. — and  those  around  Wash 
ington  and  Alexandria.  This  gave  him  enormous  odds. 
It  also  circumscribed  our  limits  for  procuring  subsistence 
for  men  and'  animals,  which,  with  the  uncertain  state  of 
the  river,  rendered  it  hazardous  for  us  to  continue  on  the 
north  side.  It  has  been  raining  a  great  deal  since  we 
first  crossed  the  Potomac,  making  the  roads  horrid  and 
embarrassing  our  operations.  The  night  we  recrossed 
it  rained  terribly,  yet  we  got  all  over  safe,  save  such 
vehicles  as  broke  down  on  the  road  from  the  mud,  rocks, 
etc.  We  are  all  well.  I  hope  we  will  yet  be  able  to 
damage  our  adversaries  when  they  meet  us.  That  it 
should  be  so,  we  must  implore  the  forgiveness  of  God 
for  our  sins,  and  the  continuance  of  His  blessings.  There 
is  nothing  but  His  almighty  power  that  can  sustain  us. 
God  bless  you  all.  .  .  ." 

Later,  July  26th,  he  writes  from  Camp  Culpeper: 

" .  .  .  After  crossing  the  Potomac,  finding  that  the 
Shenandoah  was  six  feet  above  the  fording-stage,  and, 
having  waited  for  a  week  for  it  to  fall,  so  that  I  might 
cross  into  Loudoun,  fearing  that  the  enemy  might  take 
advantage  of  our  position  and  move  upon  Richmond,  I 
determined  to  ascend  the  Valley  and  cross  into  Culpeper. 
Two  corps  are  here  with  me.  The  third  passed  Thorn- 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA     109 

ton's  Gap,  and  I  hope  will  be  in  striking  distance  to 
morrow.  The  army  has  laboured  hard,  endured  much, 
and  behaved  nobly.  It  has  accomplished  all  that  could 
be  reasonably  expected.  It  ought  not  to  have  been 
expected  to  perform  impossibilities,  or  to  have  fulfilled 
the  anticipations  of  the  thoughtless  and  unreasonable." 

On  August  2d,  from  the  same  camp,  he  again  writes 
to  my  mother: 

" .  .  .1  have  heard  of  some  doctor  having  reached 
Richmond,  who  had  seen  our  son  at  Fortress  Monroe. 
He  said  that  his  wound  was  improving,  and  that  he 
himself  was  well  and  walking  about  on  crutches. 
The  exchange  of  prisoners  that  had  been  going  on  has, 
for  some  cause,  been  suspended,  owing  to  some  crotchet 
or  other,  but  I  hope  will  soon  be  resumed,  and  that  we 
shall  have  him  back  soon.  The  armies  are  in  such  close 
proximity  that  frequent  collisions  are  common  along  the 
outposts.  Yesterday  the  enemy  laid  down  two  or  three 
pontoon  bridges  across  the  Rappahannock  and  crossed 
his  cavalry,  with  a  big  force  of  his  infantry.  It  looked 
at  first  as  if  it  were  the  advance  of  his  army,  and,  as  I  had 
not  intended  to  deliver  battle,  I  directed  our  cavalry  to 
retire  slowly  before  them  and  to  check  their  too  rapid 
pursuit.  Finding,  later  in  the  day,  that  their  army  was 
not  following,  I  ordered  out  the  infantry  and  drove  them 
back  to  the  river.  I  suppose  they  intended  to  push  on 
to  Richmond  by  this  or  some  other  route.  I  trust,  how 
ever,  they  will  never  reach  there.  .  .  ." 

On  August  23d,  from  the  camp  near  Orange  Court 
House,  General  Lee  writes  to  Mrs.  Lee: 

".  .  .  My  camp  is  near  Mr.  Erasmus  Taylor's 
house,  who  has  been  very  kind  in  contributing  to  our 
comfort.  His  wife  sends  us,  every  day,  buttermilk,  loaf 
bread,  ice,  and  such  vegetables  as  she  has.  I  cannot  get 


no       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

her  to  desist,  though  I  have  made  two  special  visits  to 
that  effect.  All  the  brides  have  come  on  a  visit  to  the 
army:  Mrs.  Ewell,  Mrs.  Walker,  Mrs.  Heth,  etc.  Gen 
eral  Meade's  army  is  north  of  the  Rappahannock  along 
the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad.  He  is  very 
quiet.  .  .  ." 

"September  4,  1863. 

" .  .  .  You  see  I  am  still  here.  When  I  wrote  last, 
the  indications  were  that  the  enemy  would  move  against 
us  any  day;  but  this  past  week  he  has  been  very 
quiet,  and  seems  at  present  to  continue  so.  I  was  out 
looking  at  him  yesterday,  from  Clarke's  Mountain. 
He  has  spread  himself  over  a  large  surface  and  looks 
immense.  .  .  ." 

And  on  September  i8th,  from  the  same  camp: 

" .  .  .  The  enemy  state  that  they  have  heard  of  a 
great  reduction  in  our  forces  here,  and  are  now  going  to 
drive  us  back  to  Richmond.  I  trust  they  will  not  suc 
ceed;  but  our  hope  and  our  refuge  is  in  our  merciful 
Father  in  Heaven.  .  .  ." 

On  October  gth,  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was 
put  in  motion,  and  was  pushed  around  Meade's  right. 
Meade  was  gradually  forced  back  to  a  position  near  the 
old  battlefield  at  Manassas.  Although  we  had  hard 
marching,  much  skirmishing,  and  several  severe  fights 
between  the  cavalry  of  both  armies,  nothing  permanent 
was  accomplished,  and  in  about  ten  days  we  were  back 
on  our  old  lines.  In  a  letter  of  October  19,  1863,  to  his 
wife,  my  father  says: 

".  .  .  I  have  returned  to  the  Rappahannock.  I 
did  not  pursue  with  the  main  army  beyond  Bristoe  or 
Broad  Run.  Our  advance  went  as  far  as  Bull  Run, 
where  the  enemy  was  entrenched,  extending  his  right 


THE  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA 


in 


as  far  as  '  Chantilly, '  in  the  yard  of  which  he  was  building 
a  redoubt.  I  could  have  thrown  him  farther  back,  but 
saw  no  chance  of  bringing  him  to  battle,  and  it  would 
only  have  served  to  fatigue  our  troops  by  advancing 
farther.  I  should  certainly  have  endeavored  to  throw 
them  north  of  the  Potomac;  but  thousands  were  bare 
footed,  thousands  with  fragments  of  shoes,  and  all  with 
out  overcoats,  blankets,  or  warm  clothing.  I  could  not 
bear  to  expose  them  to  certain  suffering  and  an  uncertain 
issue.  .  .  ." 

On  October  25th,  from  "Camp  Rappahannock, "  he 
writes  again  to  my  mother: 

" .  .  .  I  moved  yesterday  into  a  nice  pine  thicket, 
and  Perry  is  to-day  engaged  in  constructing  a  chimney 
in  front  of  my  tent,  which  will  make  it  warm  and  com 
fortable.  I  have  no  idea  when  Fitzhugh*  will  be  ex 
changed.  The  Federal  authorities  still  resist  all  ex 
changes,  because  they  think  it  is  to  our  interest  to  make 
them.  Any  desire  expressed  on  our  part  for  the  exchange 
of  any  individual  magnifies  the  difficulty,  as  they  at  once 
think  some  great  benefit  is  to  result  to  us  from  it.  His 
detention  is  very  grievous  to  me,  and,  besides,  I  want 
his  services.  I  am  glad  you  have  some  socks  for  the 
army.  Send  them  to  me.  They  will  come  safely.  Tell 
the  girls*  to  send  all  they  can.  I  wish  they  could  make 
some  shoes,  too.  We  have  thousands  of  barefooted 
men.  There  is  no  news.  General  Meade,  I  believe,  is 
repairing  the  railroad,  and  I  presume  will  come  on  again. 
If  I  could  only  get  some  shoes  and  clothes  for  the  men, 
I  would  save  him  the  trouble.  .  .  ." 

One  can  see  from  these  letters  of  my  father  how  deeply 
he  felt  for  the  sufferings  of  his  soldiers,  and  how  his  plans 
were  hindered  by  inadequate  supplies  of  food  and  clothing. 
I  heard  him  constantly  allude  to  these  troubles;  indeed, 
they  seemed  never  absent  from  his  mind. 

*  His  son,  Major  General  Fitzhugh  Lee. 

*  His  daughters. 


CHAPTER  VI 
THE  WINTER  OF  1863-4 

THE  LEE  FAMILY  IN  RICHMOND — THE  GENERAL'S  LETTERS 
TO  THEM  FROM  CAMPS  RAPPAHANNOCK  AND  RAPIDAN 
— DEATH  OF  MRS.  FITZHUGH  LEE — PREPARATIONS  TO 
MEET  GENERAL  GRANT — THE  WILDERNESS — SPOTT- 
SYLVANIA  COURT  HOUSE — DEATH  OF  GENERAL  STUART 
GENERAL  LEE's  ILLNESS 

MY  mother  had  quite  recently  rented  a  house  on  Clay 
Street  in  Richmond  which,  though  small,  gave  her  a  roof 
of  her  own,  and  it  also  enabled  her  at  times  to  entertain 
some  of  her  many  friends.  Of  this  new  home,  and  of 
a  visit  of  a  soldier's  wife  to  him,  the  General  thus  writes : 

"CAMP  RAPPAHANNOCK,  November  i,  1863. 
"  I  received  yesterday,  dear  Mary,  your  letter  of  the 
29th,  and  am  very  glad  to  learn  that  you  find  your  new 
abode  so  comfortable  and  so  well  arranged.  The  only 
fault  I  find  in  it  is  that  it  is  not  large  enough  for  you 
all,  and  that  Charlotte,  whom  I  fear  requires  much 
attention,  is  by  herself.  Where  is  '  Life '  to  go,  too,  for 
I  suppose  she  is  a  very  big  personage?  But  you  have 
never  told  me  where  it  is  situated,  or  how  I  am  to  direct 
to  you.  Perhaps  that  may  be  the  cause  of  delay  in  my 
letters.  I  am  sorry  you  find  such  difficulty  in  procuring 
yarn  for  socks,  etc.  I  fear  my  daughters  have  not  taken 
to  the  spinning-wheel  and  loom,  as  I  have  recommended. 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  recommend  them  to  the  brave 
soldiers  for  wives.  I  had  a  visit  from  a  soldier's  wife 
to-day,  who  was  on  a  visit  to  her  husband.  She  was 
from  Abbeville  district,  S.  C.  Said  she  had  not  seen  her 

112 


UNlVER&l 

OF 

WINTER  OF   1863-4  113 

husband  for  more  than  two  years,  and,  as  he  had  written 
to  her  for  clothes,  she  herself  thought  she  would  bring 
them  on.  It  was  the  first  time  she  had  travelled  by  rail 
road,  but  she  got  along  very  well  by  herself.  She  brought 
an  entire  suit  of  her  own  manufacture  for  her  husband. 
She  spun  the  yarn  and  made  the  clothes  herself.  She 
clad  her  three  children  in  the  same  way,  and  had  on  a 
beautiful  pair  of  gloves  she  had  made  for  herself.  Her 
children  she  had  left  with  her  sister.  She  said  she  had 
been  here  a  week  and  must  return  to-morrow,  and 
thought  she  could  not  go  back  without  seeing  me.  Her 
husband  accompanied  her  to  my  tent,  in  his  nice  gray 
suit.  She  was  very  pleasing  in  her  address  and  modest 
in  her  manner,  and  was  clad  in  a  nice,  new  alpaca.  I 
am  certain  she  could  not  have  made  that.  Ask  Misses 
Agnes  and  Sally  Warwick  what  they  think  of  that. 
They  need  not  ask  me  for  permission  to  get  married  until 
they  can  do  likewise.  She,  in  fact,  was  an  admirable 
woman.  Said  she  was  willing  to  give  up  everything  she 
had  in  the  world  to  attain  our  independence,  and  the 
only  complaint  she  made  of  the  conduct  of  our  enemies 
was  their  arming  our  servants  against  us.  Her  greatest 
difficulty  was  to  procure  shoes.  She  made  them  for 
herself  and  children  of  cloth  with  leather  soles.  She  sat 
with  me  about  ten  minutes  and  took  her  leave — another 
mark  of  sense — and  made  no  request  for  herself  or  husband. 
I  wrote  you  about  my  wants  in  my  former  letter.  My 
rheumatism  I  hope  is  a  little  better,  but  I  have  had 
to-day,  and  indeed  always  have,  much  pain.  I  trust 
it  will  pass  away.  ...  I  have  just  had  a  visit  from 
my  nephews,  Fitz,  John,  and  Henry.*  The  former  is 
now  on  a  little  expedition.  The  latter  accompanies  him. 
As  soon  as  I  was  left  alone,  I  committed  them  in  a  fervent 
prayer  to  the  care  and  guidance  of  our  Heavenly  Father. 
.  .  .  I  pray  you  may  be  made  whole  and  happy. 
"Truly  and  devotedly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

*  General  "Fitz"  Lee,  and  his  two  brothers,  Major  John  Mason  Lee 
and  Captain  Henry  Carter  Lee. 


ii4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

Another  letter  from  the  same  camp  is  interesting: 

"CAMP  RAPPAHANNOCK,  November  5,  1863. 

"I  received  last  night,  dear  Mary,  your  letter  of  the 
2d.  .  .  .  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  Charlotte  is  better. 
I  hope  that  she  will  get  strong  and  well,  poor  child.  The 
visit  of  her  'grandpa'  will  cheer  her  up.  I  trust,  and  I 
know,  he  gave  her  plenty  of  good  advice.  Tell  Mrs. 
Atkinson  that  her  son  Nelson  is  a  very  good  scout  and  a 
good  soldier.  I  wish  I  had  some  way  of  promoting 
him.  I  received  the  bucket  of  butter  she  was  so  kind  as 
to  send  me,  but  have  had  no  opportunity  of  returning  the 
vessel,  which  I  hope  to  be  able  to  do.  I  am  sorry  Smith 
does  not  like  your  house.  I  have  told  you  my  only  ob 
jection  to  it,  and  wish  it  were  large  enough  to  hold  Char 
lotte.  It  must  have  reminded  you  of  old  times  to  have 
your  brother  Carter  and  Uncle  Williams  *  to  see  you.  I 
think  my  rheumatism  is  better  to-day.  I  have  been 
through  a  great  deal  with  comparatively  little  suffering. 
I  have  been  wanting  to  review  the  cavalry  for  some  time, 
and  appointed  to-day  with  fear  and  trembling.  I  had 
not  been  on  horseback  for  five  days  previously  and  feared 
I  should  not  get  through.  The  governor  was  here  and 
told  me  Mrs.  Letcher  had  seen  you  recently.  I  saw  all 
my  nephews  looking  very  handsome,  and  Rob  too.  The 
latter  says  he  has  written  to  you  three  times  since  he 
crossed  the  river.  Tell  "  Chas."  I  think  F's  old  regiment, 
the  gth,  made  the  best  appearance  in  review. 

"While  on  the  ground,  a  man  rode  up  to  me  and  said 
he  was  just  from  Alexandria  and  had  been  requested  to 
give  me  a  box,  which  he  handed  me,  but  did  not  know 
who  sent  it.  It  contained  a  handsome  pair  of  gilt  spurs. 
Good-night.  May  a  kind  heavenly  Father  guard  you  all. 
"Truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


*Mr.  Charles  Carter  Lee,  the  General's  brother  ;  Mr.  Williams  Carter, 
the  General's  uncle. 


THE   WINTER  OF    1863-4  IIS 

When  our  cavalry  was  reviewed  the  preceding  summer, 
it  happened  that  we  engaged  the  next  day,  June  gth,  the 
enemy's  entire  force  of  that  arm,  in  the  famous  battle 
of  Brandy  Station.  Since  then  there  had  been  a  sort  of 
superstition  amongst  us  that, if  we  wanted  a  fight  all  that 
was  necessary  was  to  have  a  review.  We  were  now  on 
the  same  ground  we  had  occupied  in  June,  and  the  enemy 
was  in  force  just  across  the  river.  As  it  happened,  the 
fighting  did  take  place,  though  the  cavalry  was  not  alone 
engaged.  Not  the  day  after  the  review,  but  on  November 
7th,  Meade  advanced  and  crossed  the  Rappahannock, 
while  our  army  fell  back  and  took  up  our  position  on 
the  line  of  the  Rapidan. 

Before  the  two  armies  settled  down  into  winter  quarters, 
General  Meade  tried  once  more  to  get  at  us,  and  on  the 
26th  of  November,  with  ten  days'  rations  and  in  light 
marching  order,  he  crossed  the  Rapidan  and  attempted 
to  turn  our  right.  But  he  was  unable  to  do  anything, 
being  met  at  every  point  by  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  heavily  entrenched  and  anxious  for  an  attack. 
Long  says : 

"Meade  declared  that  the  position  could  not  be  carried 
without  the  loss  of  thirty  thousand  men.  This  con 
tingency  was  too  terrible  to  be  entertained— yet  the 
rations  of  the  men  were  nearly  exhausted,  and  nothing 
remained  but  retreat.  This  was  safely  accomplished  on 
the  night  of  December  ist.  .  .  ." 

Lee  was  more  surprised  at  the  retreat  of  Meade  than 
he  had  been  at  his  advance,  and  his  men,  who  had  been  in 
high  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  obliterating  the  memory 
of  Gettysburg,  were  sadly  disappointed  at  the  loss  of 
the  opportunity.  To  my  mother,  General  Lee  wrote  on 
December  4th,  from  "Camp  Rapidan": 


n6       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

" .  .  .  You  will  probably  have  seen  that  General 
Meade  has  retired  to  his  old  position  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  without  giving  us  battle.  I  had  expected  from  his 
movements,  and  all  that  I  had  heard,  that  it  was  his 
intention  to  do  so,  and  after  the  first  day,  when  I  thought 
it  necessary  to  skirmish  pretty  sharply  with  him,  on 
both  flanks,  to  ascertain  his  views,  I  waited,  patiently, 
his  attack.  On  Tuesday,  however,  I  thought  he  had 
changed  his  mind,  and  that  night  made  preparations  to 
move  around  his  left  next  morning  and  attack  him.  But 
when  day  dawned  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  He  had 
commenced  to  withdraw  at  dark  Tuesday  evening.  We 
pursued  to  the  Rapidan,  but  he  was  over.  Owing  to 
the  nature  of  the  ground,  it  was  to  our  advantage  to 
receive  rather  than  to  make  the  attack.  I  am  greatly 
disappointed  at  his  getting  off  with  so  little  damage, 
but  we  do  not  know  what  is  best  for  us.  I  believe  a  kind 
God  has  ordered  all  things  for  our  good.  .  .  ." 

About  this  time  the  people  of  the  City  of  Richmond,  to 
show  their  esteem  for  my  father,  desired  to  present  him 
with  a  home.  General  Lee,  on  hearing  of  it,  thus  wrote 
to  the  President  of  the  Council: 

" .  .  .  I  assure  you,  sir,  that  no  want  of  apprecia 
tion  of  the  honour  conferred  upon  me  by  this  resolution — 
or  insensibility  to  the  kind  feelings  which  prompted  it — 
induces  me  to  ask,  as  I  most  respectfully  do,  that  no 
further  proceedings  be  taken  with  reference  to  the  sub 
ject.  The  house  is  not  necessary  for  the  use  of  my  family, 
and  my  own  duties  will  prevent  my  residence  in  Rich 
mond.  I  should  therefore  be  compelled  to  decline  the 
generous  offer,  and  I  trust  that  whatever  means  the  City 
Council  may  have  to  spare  for  this  purpose  may  be 
devoted  to  the  relief  of  the  families  of  our  soldiers  in  the 
field,  who  are  more  in  want  of  assistance,  and  more  de 
serving  it,  than  myself.  .  .  ." 


THE   WINTER  OF   1863-4  117 

My  brother  was  still  in  prison,  and  his  detention  gave 
my  father  great  concern.  In  a  letter  to  my  mother, 
written  November  2ist,  he  says: 

".  .  .  I  see  by  the  papers  that  our  son  has  been 
sent  to  Fort  Lafayette.  Any  place  would  be  better  than 
Fort  Monroe,  with  Butler  in  command.  His  long  con 
finement  is  very  grievous  to  me,  yet  it  may  all  turn  out 
for  the  best.  .  .  ." 

To  his  daughter-in-law  my  father  was  devotedly 
attached.  His  love  for  her  was  like  that  for  his  own 
children,  and  when  her  husband  was  captured  and  thrown, 
wounded,  into  prison,  his  great  tenderness  for  her  was 
shown  on  all  occasions.  Her  death  about  this  time, 
though  expected,  was  a  great  blow  to  him.  When 
news  came  to  Gen.  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  that 
his  wife  Charlotte  was  dying  in  Richmond,  he  made 
application  to  General  Butler,  commanding  that  post, 
that  he  be  allowed  to  go  to  her  for  48  hours,  his  brother 
Custis  Lee,  of  equal  rank  with  himself,  having  formally 
volunteered  in  writing  to  take  his  place,  as  a  hostage, 
until  he  should  return  to  his  captivity.  This  request 
was  curtly  and  peremptorily  refused. 

In  his  letter  to  my  mother,  of  December  27th,  my 
father  says: 

" .  .  .  Custis's  despatch  which  I  received  last  night 
demolished  all  the  hopes,  in  which  I  had  been  indulging 
during  the  day,  of  dear  Charlotte's  recovery.  It  has 
pleased  God  to  take  from  us  one  exceedingly  dear  to  us, 
and  we  must  be  resigned  to  His  holy  will.  She,  I  trust,  will 
enjoy  peace  and  happiness  forever,  while  we  must  pa 
tiently  struggle  on  under  all  the  ills  that  may  be  in  store 
for  us.  What  a  glorious  thought  it  is  that  she  has  joined 


n8       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

her  little  cherubs  and  our  angel  Annie*  in  Heaven.  Thus 
is  link  by  link  the  strong  chain  broken  that  binds  us  to 
earth,  and  our  passage  soothed  to  another  world.  Oh, 
that  we  may  be  at  last  united  in  that  heaven  of  rest, 
where  trouble  and  sorrow  never  enter,  to  join  in  an  ever 
lasting  chorus  of  praise  and  glory  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour ! 
I  grieve  for  our  lost  darling  as  a  father  only  can  grieve 
for  a  daughter,  and  my  sorrow  is  heightened  by  the 
thought  of  the  anguish  her  death  will  cause  our  dear 
son  and  the  poignancy  it  will  give  to  the  bars  of  his 
prison.  May  God  in  His  mercy  enable  him  to  bear  the 
blow  He  has  so  suddenly  dealt,  and  sanctify  it  to  his 
everlasting  happiness  ! ' ' 

After  Meade's  last  move,  the  weather  becoming  wintry, 
the  troops  fixed  up  for  themselves  winter  quarters,  and  the 
cavalry  and  artillery  were  sent  back  along  the  line  of  the 
Chesapeake  &  Ohio  Railroad,  where  forage  could  be 
more  easily  obtained  for  their  horses.  On  January  24, 
1864,  the  General  writes  to  my  mother: 

" .  .  .  I  have  had  to  disperse  the  cavalry  as  much 
as  possible,  to  obtain  forage  for  their  horses,  and  it  is 
that  which  causes  trouble.  Provisions  for  the  men,  too, 
are  very  scarce,  and,  with  very  light  diet  and  light  cloth 
ing,  I  fear  they  suffer,  but  still  they  are  cheerful  and 
uncomplaining.  I  received  a  report  from  one  division 
the  other  day  in  which  it  stated  that  over  four  hundred 
men  were  barefooted  and  over  a  thousand  without 
blankets." 

Lee  was  the  idol  of  his  men.  Colonel  Charles  Marshall, 
who  was  his  A.  D.  C.  and  military  secretary,  illustrates 
this  well  in  the  following  incident : 

"  While  the  Army  was  on  the  Rapidan,  in  the  winter  of 
1863-4,  it  became  necessary,  as  was  often  the  case,  to 

*  His  second  daughter. 


THE  WINTER  OF   1863-4  119 

put  the  men  on  very  short  rations.  Their  duty  was  hard, 
not  only  on  the  outposts  during  the  winter,  but  in  the  con 
struction  of  roads,  to  facilitate  communication  between 
the  different  parts  of  the  army.  One  day  General  Lee 
received  a  letter  from  a  private  soldier,  whose  name  I  do 
not  now  remember,  informing  him  of  the  work  that  he  had 
to  do,  and  stating  that  his  rations  were  not  sufficient  to 
enable  him  to  undergo  the  fatigue.  He  said,  however, 
that  if  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  put  him  upon  such 
short  allowance,  he  would  make  the  best  of  it,  but  that 
he  and  his  comrades  wanted  to  know  if  General  Lee  was 
aware  that  his  men  were  getting  so  little  to  eat,  because 
if  he  was  aware  of  it  he  was  sure  there  must  be  some 
necessity  for  it.  General  Lee  did  not  reply  directly  to 
the  letter,  but  issued  a  general  order  in  which  he  informed 
the  soldiers  of  his  efforts  in  their  behalf,  and  that  their 
privation  was  beyond  his  means  of  present  relief,  but 
assured  them  that  he  was  making  every  effort  to  procure 
sufficient  supplies.  After  that  there  was  not  a  murmur 
in  the  army,  and  the  hungry  men  went  cheerfully  to  their 
hard  work." 

When  I  returned  to  the  army  in  the  summer,  I  reported 
to  my  old  brigade,  which  was  gallantly  commanded  by 
John  R.  Chambliss,  Colonel  of  the  i3th  Virginia  Cavalry, 
the  senior  officer  of  the  brigade.  Later,  I  had  been  assigned 
to  duty  with  General  Fitz  Lee  and  was  with  him  at  this 
time.  My  mother  was  anxious  that  I  should  be  with 
my  father,  thinking,  I  have  no  doubt,  that  my  continued 
presence  would  be  a  comfort  to  him.  She  must  have 
written  him  to  that  effect,  for  in  a  letter  to  her,  dated 
February,  1864,  he  says: 

" .  .  .  In  reference  to  Rob,  his  company  would  be  a 
great  pleasure  and  comfort  to  me,  and  he  would  be 
extremely  useful  in  various  ways,  but  I  am  opposed  to 
officers  surrounding  themselves  with  their  sons  and 


120       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

relatives.  It  is  wrong  in  principle,  and  in  that  case 
selections  would  be  made  from  private  and  social  rela 
tions,  rather  than  for  the  public  good.  There  is  the  same 
objection  to  his  going  with  Fitz  Lee.  I  should  prefer  Rob's 
being  in  the  line,  in  an  independent  position,  where  he 
could  rise  by  his  own  merit  and  not  through  the  recom 
mendation  of  his  relatives.  I  expect  him  soon,  when  I 
can  better  see  what  he  himself  thinks.  The  young  men 
have  no  fondness  for  the  society  of  the  old  general.  He 
is  too  heavy  and  sombre  for  them.  .  .  ." 

If  anything  was  said  to  me  on  this  occasion  by  my 
father,  I  do  not  remember  it.  I  rather  think  that  some 
thing  prevented  the  interview,  for  I  cannot  believe  that 
it  could  have  entirely  escaped  my  memory.  At  any 
rate,  I  remained  with  General  Fitz  Lee  until  my  brother's 
return  from  prison  in  April  of  that  year.  Fitz  Lee's 
brigade  camped  near  Charlottesville,  on  the  Chesapeake 
&  Ohio  Rilroad,  in  January,  in  order  that  forage  could 
be  more  readily  obtained.  The  officers,  to  amuse  them 
selves  and  to  return  in  part  the  courtesies  and  kindnesses 
of  the  ladies  of  the  town,  gave  a  ball.  It  was  a  grand 
affair  for  those  times.  Committees  were  appointed  and 
printed  invitations  issued.  As  a  member  of  the  invita 
tion  committee,  I  sent  one  to  the  general  commanding 
the  army.  Here  is  his  opinion  of  it,  in  a  letter  to  me : 

".  .  .  I  inclose  a  letter  for  you,  which  has  been 
sent  to  my  care.  I  hope  you  are  well  and  all  around 
you  are  so.  Tell  Fitz  I  grieve  over  the  hardships  and 
sufferings  of  his  men,  in  their  late  expedition.  I  should 
have  preferred  his  waiting  for  more  favourable  weather. 
He  accomplished  much  under  the  circumstances,  but 
would  have  done  more  in  better  weather.  I  am  afraid 
he  was  anxious  to  get  back  to  the  ball.  This  is  a  bad 
time  for  such  things.  We  have  too  grave  subjects  on 


THE   WINTER  OF   1863-4  121 

hand  to  engage  in  such  trivial  amusements.  I  would 
rather  his  officers  should  entertain  themselves  in  fattening 
their  horses,  healing  their  men,  and  recruiting  their 
regiments.  There  are  too  many  Lees  on  the  committee. 
I  like  all  to  be  present  at  battles,  but  can  excuse  them  at 
balls.  But  the  saying  is,  '  Children  will  be  children. ' 
I  think  he  had  better  move  his  camp  farther  from  Char 
lottes  ville,  and  perhaps  he  will  get  more  work  and  less 
play.  He  and  I  are  too  old  for  such  assemblies.  I  want 
him  to  write  me  how  his  men  are,  his  horses,  and  what 
I  can  do  to  fill  up  the  ranks.  .  .  ." 

In  this  winter  and  spring  of  1864,  every  exertion  pos 
sible  was  made  by  my  father  to  increase  the  strength  of 
his  army  and  to  improve  its  efficiency.  He  knew  full  well 
that  the  enemy  was  getting  together  an  enormous  force, 
and  that  his  vast  resources  would  be  put  forth  to  crush 
us  in  the  spring.  His  letters  at  this  time  to  President 
Davis  and  the  Secretary  of  War  show  how  well  he 
understood  the  difficulties  of  his  position. 

"In  none  of  them,"  General  Long  says,  "does  he  show 
a  symptom  of  despair  or  breathe  a  thought  of  giving  up 
the  contest.  To  the  last,  he  remained  full  of  resources, 
energetic  and  defiant,  and  ready  to  bear  upon  his  shoul 
ders  the  whole  burden  of  the  conduct  of  the  war." 

In  a  letter  to  President  Davis,  written  March,  1864,  he 
says: 

"  Mr.  President :  Since  my  former  letter  on  the  subject, 
the  indications  that  operations  in  Virginia  will  be  vigor 
ously  prosecuted  by  the  enemy  are  stronger  than  they 
then  were.  General  Grant  has  returned  from  the  army 
in  the  West.  He  is,  at  present,  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  which  is  being  organised  and  recruited.  .  .  . 
Every  train  brings  recruits,  and  it  is  stated  that  every 
available  regiment  at  the  North  is  added  to  it.  .  .  . 


122       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

Their  plans  are  not  sufficiently  developed  to  discover 
them,  but  I  think  we  can  assume  that,  if  General  Grant  is 
to  direct  operations  on  this  frontier,  he  will  concentrate  a 
large  force  on  one  or  more  lines,  and  prudence  dictates 
that  we  should  make  such  preparations  as  are  in  our 
power.  .  .  ." 

On  April  6th  he  again  writes  to  the  President : 

".  .  .  All  the  information  I  receive  tends  to  show 
that  the  great  effort  of  the  enemy  in  this  campaign  will  be 
made  in  Virginia.  .  .  .  Reinforcements  are  certainly 
daily  arriving  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  .  .  .  The 
tone  of  the  Northern  papers,  as  well  as  the  impression 
prevailing  in  their  armies,  go  to  show  that  Grant  with  a 
large  force  is  to  move  against  Richmond.  .  .  .  The 
movements  and  reports  of  the  enemy  may  be  intended  to 
mislead  us,  and  should  therefore  be  carefully  observed. 
But  all  the  information  that  reaches  me  goes  to  strengthen 
the  belief  that  General  Grant  is  preparing  to  move  against 
Richmond." 

The  question  of  feeding  his  army  was  ever  before  him. 
To  see  his  men  hungry  and  cold,  and  his  horses  ill  fed,  was 
a  great  pain  to  him.  To  Mr.  Davis  he  thus  writes  on  this 
subject : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  April  12,  1864. 
"Mr.  President:  My  anxiety  on  the  subject  of  pro 
visions  for  the  army  is  so  great  that  I  cannot  refrain  from 
expressing  it  to  Your  Excellency.  I  cannot  see  how  we 
can  operate  with  our  present  supplies.  Any  derange 
ment  in  their  arrival  or  disaster  to  the  railroad  would  ren 
der  it  impossible  for  me  to  keep  the  army  together,  and 
might  force  a  retreat  into  North  Carolina.  There  is  noth 
ing  to  be  had  in  this  section  for  men  or  animals.  We 
have  rations  for  the  troops  to-day  and  to-morrow.  I 
hope  a  new  supply  arrived  last  night,  but  I  have  not  yet 


THE   WINTER  OF   1863-4  123 

had  a  report.  Every  exertion  should  be  made  to  supply 
the  depots  at  Richmond  and  at  other  points.  All  pleasure 
travel  should  cease,  and  everything  be  devoted  to  neces 
sary  wants. 

"  I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE,  General." 

In  a  letter  written  to  our  cousin,  Margaret  Stuart,  of 
whom  he  was  very  fond,  dated  March  2gth,  he  says: 

".  .  .  The  indications  at  present  are  that  we  shall 
have  a  hard  struggle.  General  Grant  is  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  All  the  officers'  wives,  sick,  etc.,  have  been 
sent  to  Washington.  No  ingress  into  or  egress  from  the 
lines  is  now  permitted  and  no  papers  are  allowed  to  come 
out — they  claim  to  be  assembling  a  large  force.  .  .  ." 

Again,  April  28th,  he  writes  to  this  same  young  cousin: 

".  .  .  I  dislike  to  send  letters  within  reach  of  the 
enemy,  as  they  might  serve,  if  captured,  to  bring  distress 
on  others.  But  you  must  sometimes  cast  your  thoughts 
on  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  never  forget  it  in 
your  prayers.  It  is  preparing  for  a  great  struggle,  but  I 
pray  and  trust  that  the  great  God,  mighty  to  deliver,  will 
spread  over  it  His  almighty  arms,  and  drive  its  enemies 
before  it.  .  .  ." 

One  perceives  from  these  letters  how  clearly  my  father 
foresaw  the  storm  that  was  so  soon  to  burst  upon  him. 
He  used  every  means  within  his  power  to  increase  and 
strengthen  his  army  to  meet  it,  and  he  continually  urged 
the  authorities  at  Richmond  to  make  preparations  in  the 
way  of  supplies  of  ammunition,  rations,  and  clothing. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  any  part  of  this  cam 
paign  except  in  a  very  general  way.  It  has  been  well 
written  up  by  both  sides,  and  what  was  done  by  the  Army 


i24       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

of  Northern  Virginia  we  all  know.  I  saw  my  father  only 
once  or  twice,  to  speak  to  him,  during  the  thirty  odd  days 
from  the  Wilderness  to  Petersburg,  but,  in  common  with 
all  his  soldiers,  I  felt  that  he  was  ever  near,  that  he  could 
be  entirely  trusted  with  the  care  of  us,  that  he  would  not 
fail  us,  that  it  would  all  end  well.  The  feeling  of  trust 
that  we  had  in  him  was  simply  sublime.  When  I  say 
"we,"  I  mean  the  men  of  my  age  and  standing,  officers 
and  privates  alike.  Older  heads  may  have  begun  to  see 
the  "  beginning  of  the  end  "  when  they  saw  that  slaughter 
and  defeat  did  not  deter  our  enemy,  but  made  him  the 
more  determined  in  his  " hammering"  process;  but  it 
never  occurred  to  me,  and  to  thousands  and  thousands 
like  me,  that  there  was  any  occasion  for  uneasiness.  We 
firmly  believed  that  "Marse  Robert,"  as  his  soldiers  lov 
ingly  called  him,  would  bring  us  out  of  this  trouble  all 
right. 

When  Grant  reached  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  he 
sent  all  of  his  cavalry,  under  Sheridan,  to  break  our  com 
munications.  They  were  met  at  Yellow  Tavern,  six  miles 
from  Richmond,  by  General  Stuart,  with  three  brigades 
of  Confederate  cavalry,  and  were  attacked  so  fiercely  that 
they  were  held  there  nearly  all  day,  giving  time  for  the 
troops  around  and  in  Richmond  to  concentrate  for  the 
defense  of  the  city. 

In  this  fight  General  Stuart  fell  mortally  wounded,  and 
he  died  the  next  day  in  Richmond.  The  death  of  our 
noted  cavalry  leader  was  a  great  blow  to  our  cause — a  loss 
second  only  to  that  of  Jackson. 

Captain  W.  Gordon  McCabe  writes  me : 

"  I  was  sitting  on  my  horse  very  near  to  General  Lee, 
who  was  talking  to  my  colonel,  William  Johnson  Pegram, 
when  a  courier  galloped  up  with  the  despatch  announcing 


THE  WINTER  OF   1863-4  125 

that  Stuart  had  been  mortally  wounded  and  was  dying. 
General  Lee  was  evidently  greatly  affected,  and  said 
slowly,  as  he  folded  up  the  despatch, '  General  Stuart  has 
been  mortally  wounded :  a  most  valuable  and  able  officer. ' 
Then,  after  a  moment,  he  added  in  a  voice  of  deep  feeling, 
1  He  never  brought  me  a  piece  of  false  information ' — turned 
and  looked  away.  What  praise  dearer  to  a  soldier's  heart 
could  fall  from  the  lips  of  the  commanding  general 
touching  his  Chief  of  Cavalry !  These  simple  words  of 
Lee  constitute,  I  think,  the  fittest  inscription  for  the 
monument  that  is  soon  to  be  erected  to  the  memory  of 
the  great  cavalry  leader  of  the  'Army  of  Northern 
Virginia/" 

In  a  letter  from  my  father  to  my  mother,  dated  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House,  May  i6th,  he  says: 

".  .  .  As  I  write  I  am  expecting  the  sound  of  the 
guns  every  moment.  I  grieve  over  the  loss  of  our  gallant 
officers  and  men,  and  miss  their  aid  and  sympathy.  A 
more  zealous,  ardent,  brave,  and  devoted  soldier  than 
Stuart  the  Confederacy  cannot  have.  Praise  be  to  God 
for  having  sustained  us  so  far.  I  have  thought  of  you  very 
often  in  these  eventful  days.  God  bless  and  preserve 
you." 

General  Lee,  in  his  order  announcing  the  death  of 
Stuart,  thus  speaks  of  him: 

".  .  .  Among  the  gallant  soldiers  who  have  fallen 
in  this  war,  General  Stuart  was  second  to  none  in  valour, 
in  zeal,  and  in  unflinching  devotion  to  his  country.  His 
achievements  form  a  conspicuous  part  of  the  history  of 
this  army,  with  which  his  name  and  services  will  be  for 
ever  associated.  To  military  capacity  of  a  high  order 
and  to  the  noble  virtues  of  the  soldier  he  added  the 
brighter  graces  of  a  pure  life,  guided  and  sustained  by  the 
Christian's  faith  and  hope.  The  mysterious  hand  of  an 


126       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

all-wise  God  has  removed  him  from  the  scene  of  his  use 
fulness  and  fame.  His  grateful  countrymen  will  mourn 
his  loss  and  cherish  his  memory.  To  his  comrades  in 
arms  he  has  left  the  proud  recollections  of  his  deeds  and 
the  inspiring  influence  of  his  example." 

Speaking  of  the  operations  around  Spottsylvania 
Court  House,  Swinton,  the  historian  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  says: 

"  Before  the  lines  of  Spottsylvania,  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  had  for  twelve  days  and  nights  engaged  in  a 
fierce  wrestle  in  which  it  had  done  all  that  valour  may  do 
to  carry  a  position  by  nature  and  art  impregnable.  In 
this  contest,  unparalleled  in  its  continuous  fury,  and 
swelling  to  the  proportions  of  a  campaign,  language  is 
inadequate  to  convey  an  impression  of  the  labours, 
fatigues,  and  sufferings  of  the  troops,  who  fought  by  day, 
only  to  march  by  night,  from  point  to  point  of  the  long 
line,  and  renew  the  fight  on  the  morrow.  Above  forty 
thousand  men  had  already  fallen  in  the  bloody  encoun 
ters  of  the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania,  and  the  ex 
hausted  army  began  to  lose  its  spirits.  It  was  with  joy, 
therefore,  that  it  at  length  turned  its  back  upon  the  lines 
of  Spottsylvania." 

General  Long,  in  his  "  Memoirs  of  General  Lee,"  speak 
ing  of  our  army  at  this  time,  says : 

"In  no  previous  operations  did  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia  display  higher  soldierly  qualities.  Regardless 
of  numbers,  every  breach  was  filled,  and,  with  unparal 
leled  stubbornness,  its  lines  were  maintained.  The  sol 
diers  of  that  army  not  only  gratified  their  countrymen, 
but  by  their  gallantry  and  vigour  won  the  admiration  of 
their  enemies.  Wherever  the  men  in  blue  appeared  they 
were  met  by  those  in  gray,  and  muzzle  to  muzzle  and 
point  to  point  they  measured  their  foeman's  strength." 


THE   WINTER  OF   1863-4  127 

When  we  learned  that  General  Lee  was  ill — confined 
for  a  day  or  two  to  his  tent,  at  the  time  he  was  confronting 
General  Grant  on  the  North  Anna — this  terrible  thought 
forced  itself  upon  us :  Suppose  disease  should  disable  him, 
even  for  a  time,  or,  worse,  should  take  him  forever  from 
the  front  of  his  men  !  It  could  not  be  !  It  was  too  awful 
to  consider !  And  we  banished  any  such  possibility  from 
our  minds.  When  we  saw  him  out  again,  on  the  lines, 
riding  Traveller  as  usual,  it  was  as  if  some  great  crushing 
weight  had  been  suddenly  lifted  from  our  hearts.  Colonel 
Walter  H.  Taylor,  his  adjutant-general,  says: 

"The  indisposition  of  General  Lee  .  .  .  was  more 
serious  than  was  generally  supposed.  Those  near  him 
were  very  apprehensive  lest  he  should  be  compelled  to 
give  up." 

General  Early  also  writes  of  this  circumstance : 

"  One  of  his  three  corps  commanders*  had  been  disabled 
by  wounds  at  the  Wilderness,  and  another  was  too  unwell 
to  command  his  corpsf,  while  he  (General  Lee)  was  suf 
fering  from  a  most  annoying  and  weakening  disease.  In 
fact,  nothing  but  his  own  determined  will  enabled  him  to 
keep  the  field  at  all ;  and  it  was  then  rendered  more  mani 
fest  than  ever  that  he  was  the  head  and  front,  the  very^ 
life  and  soul  of  the  army." 

*  Longstreet. 
t  A.  P.  Hill. 


CHAPTER  VII 
FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 

BATTLE    OF   COLD  HARBOUR — SIEGE  OF  PETERSBURG — THE 

GENERAL  INTRUSTS  A  MISSION  TO  HIS    SON,  ROBERT 

BATTLE  OF  THE  CRATER — GRANT  CROSSES  THE  JAMES 
RIVER — GENERAL  LONG'S  PEN-PICTURE  OF  LEE — 
KNITTING  SOCKS  FOR  THE  SOLDIERS — A  CHRISTMAS 
DINNER — INCIDENTS  OF  CAMP  LIFE 

FROM  the  North  Anna  River  the  Federal  Army  moved 
by  its  left  flank,  seeking  to  find  its  adversary  unprepared, 
but  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  steadily  confronted  it, 
ever  ready  to  receive  any  attack.  At  Cold  Harbour  they 
paused,  facing  each  other,  and  General  Grant,  having 
received  sixteen  thousand  men  from  Butler  by  way  of 
Yorktown  on  June  ist,  made  an  attack,  but  found  our 
lines  immovable.  In  his  "  Memoirs  "  he  writes : 

"June  2d  was  spent  in  getting  troops  into  position  for 
attack  on  the  3d.  On  June  3d,  we  again  assaulted  the 
enemy's  work  in  the  hope  of  driving  him  from  his  position. 
In  this  attempt  our  loss  was  heavy,  while  that  of  the 
enemy,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  was  comparatively  light." 

This  assault  was  repelled  along  the  whole  line,  with  the 
most  terrible  slaughter  yet  recorded  in  our  war.  Yet  in 
a  few  hours  these  beaten  men  were  ordered  to  move  up  to 
our  lines  again.  Swinton,  the  historian  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  thus  describes  what  happened  when  this 
order  was  sent  to  the  men: 

128 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC    1 29 

"The  order  was  issued  through  these  officers"  (the 
.orps  commanders)  "to  their  subordinate  commanders, 
and  from  them  descended  through  the  wonted  channels ; 
but  no  man  stirred,  and  the  immobile  lines  pronounced 
a  verdict,  silent,  yet  emphatic,  against  further  slaughter. 
The  loss  on  the  Union  side  in  this  sanguinary  action  was 
more  than  thirteen  thousand,  while  on  the  part  of  the 
Confederates  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  reached  that  many 
hundreds." 

Colonel  Walter  H.  Taylor,  in  his  "Four  Years  with 
General  Lee,"  says: 

"Soon  after  this,  he  (Grant)  abandoned  his  chosen  line 
of  operations,  and  moved  his  army  to  the  south  side  of 
the  James  River.  The  struggle  from  the  Wilderness  to 
this  point  covers  a  period  of  about  one  month,  during 
which  time  there  had  been  an  almost  daily  encounter  of 
hostile  arms,  and  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  had 
placed  hors  de  combat  of  the  army  under  General  Grant  a 
number  equal  to  its  entire  numerical  strength  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  campaign,  and,  notwithstanding  its 
own  heavy  losses  and  the  reinforcements  received  by  the 
enemy,  still  presented  an  impregnable  front  to  its  oppo 
nent,  and  constituted  an  insuperable  barrier  to  General 
Grant's  'On  to  Richmond.'" 

Thus  after  thirty  days  of  marching,  starving,  fighting, 
and  with  a  loss  of  more  than  sixty  thousand  men,  General 
Grant  reached  the  James  River,  near  Petersburg,  which 
he  could  have  done  at  any  time  he  so  desired  without  the 
loss  of  a  single  man.  The  baffling  of  our  determined  foe 
so  successfully  raised  the  spirits  of  our  rank  and  file,  and 
their  confidence  in  their  commander  knew  no  bounds. 

The  two  armies  now  commenced  a  contest  which  could 
end  only  one  way.  If  General  Lee  had  been  permitted  to 
evacuate  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  to  fall  back  upon 


1 3o       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

some  interior  point,  nearer  supplies  for  man  and  beast 
and  within  supporting  distance  of  the  remaining  forces  of 
the  Confederacy,  the  surrender  would  certainly  have  been 
put  off — possibly  never  have  taken  place — and  the  result 
of  the  war  changed.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  placed 
itself  on  the  James,  through  whose  channel  it  had  easy 
access  to  the  wide  world  whence  to  secure  for  itself  an 
unlimited  supply  of  men  and  munitions  of  war.  General 
Lee,  with  a  line  thirty  miles  long  to  defend  and  with  only 
35,000  men  to  hold  it,  with  no  chance  of  reinforcements, 
no  reserves  with  which  to  fill  up  the  ranks  lessened  daily 
by  death  in  battle  and  by  disease,  had  to  sit  still  and  see 
his  army,  on  half  rations  or  less,  melt  away  because  it  was 
deemed  advisable  by  his  government,  for  political  and 
other  purposes,  to  hold  Richmond,  the  Confederacy's 
capital. 

In  an  article  by  Lord  Wolseley,  in  Macmillan's  Maga 
zine,  he  says : 

"  Lee  was  opposed  to  the  final  defense  of  Richmond  that 
was  urged  upon  him  for  political,  not  military  reasons. 
It  was  a  great  strategic  error.  General  Grant's  large 
army  of  men  was  easily  fed,  and  its  daily  losses  easily 
recruited  from  a  near  base ;  whereas,  if  it  had  been  drawn 
far  into  the  interior  after  the  little  army  with  which  Lee 
endeavoured  to  protect  Richmond,  its  fighting  strength 
would  have  been  largely  reduced  by  the  detachments 
required  to  guard  a  long  line  of  communications  through 
a  hostile  country." 

During  the  nine  months  the  siege  of  Petersburg  lasted, 
I  saw  my  father  but  seldom.  His  headquarters  were  near 
the  town,  my  command  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
army,  and  during  the  winter,  in  order  to  get  forage,  we 
were  moved  still  further  away,  close  to  the  border  of  North 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC     131 

Carolina.  During  this  summer,  I  had  occasion,  once  or 
twice,  to  report  to  him  at  his  headquarters,  once  about 
July  ist  by  his  special  order.  I  remember  how  we  all 
racked  our  brains  to  account  for  this  order,  which  was  for 
me  to  report  "at  once  to  the  commanding  general,"  and 
many  wild  guesses  were  made  by  my  young  companions 
as  to  what  was  to  become  of  me.  Their  surmises  extended 
from  my  being  shot  for  unlawful  foraging  to  my  being 
sent  on  a  mission  abroad  to  solicit  the  recognition  of  our 
independence.  I  reported  at  once,  and  found  my  father 
expecting  me,  with  a  bed  prepared.  It  was  characteristic 
of  him  that  he  never  said  a  word  about  what  I  was  wanted 
for  until  he  was  ready  with  full  instructions.  I  was  fed 
at  once,  for  I  was  still  hungry,  my  bed  was  shown  me,  and 
I  was  told  to  rest  and  sleep  well,  as  he  wanted  me  in  the 
morning,  and  that  I  would  need  all  my  strength. 

The  next  morning  he  gave  me  a  letter  to  General  Early, 
who,  with  his  command,  was  at  that  time  in  Maryland, 
threatening  Washington.  My  mission  was  to  carry  this 
letter  to  him.  As  Early  had  cut  loose  from  his  com 
munications  with  Virginia,  and  as  there  was  a  chance  of 
any  messenger  to  him  being  caught  by  raiding  parties, 
my  father  gave  me  verbally  the  contents  of  his  letter, 
and  told  me  that  if  I  saw  any  chance  of  my  capture  to 
destroy  it,  then,  if  I  did  reach  the  General,  I  should  be 
able  to  tell  him  what  he  had  written.  He  cautioned  me 
to  keep  my  own  counsel,  and  to  say  nothing  to  any  one 
as  to  my  destination.  Orders  for  a  relay  of  horses  from 
Staunton,  where  the  railroad  terminated,  to  the  Potomac 
had  been  telegraphed,  and  I  was  to  start  at  once.  This 
I  did,  seeing  my  sisters  and  mother  in  Richmond  while 
waiting  for  the  train  to  Staunton,  and  having  very  great 
difficulty  in  keeping  from  them  my  destination.  But  I 


1 32       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

did,  and,  riding  night  and  day,  came  up  with  General 
Early  at  a  point  in  Maryland  some  miles  beyond  the  old 
battlefield  of  Sharpsburg.  I  delivered  the  letter  to  him,  • 
returned  to  Petersburg,  and  reported  to  my  father.  Much 
gratified  by  the  evident  pleasure  of  the  General  at  my 
diligence  and  at  the  news  I  had  brought  from  Early  and 
his  men,  after  a  night's  rest  and  two  good  meals  I  returned 
to  my  command,  never  telling  my  comrades  until  long 
afterward  what  had  been  done  to  me  by  the  commanding 
general. 

My  father's  relations  with  the  citizens  of  Petersburg 
were  of  the  kindest  description.  The  ladies  were  ever 
trying  to  make  him  more  comfortable,  sending  him  of 
their  scanty  fare  more  than  they  could  well  spare.  He 
always  tried  to  prevent  them,  and  when  he  could  do  so 
without  hurting  their  feelings  he  would  turn  over  to  the 
hospitals  the  dainties  sent  him — much  to  the  disgust  of 
his  mess-steward,  Bryan.  Bryan  was  an  Irishman,  per 
fectly  devoted  to  my  father,  and,  in  his  opinion,  there 
was  nothing  in  the  eatable  line  which  was  too  good  for  the 
General.  He  was  an  excellent  caterer,  a  good  forager,  and, 
but  for  my  father's  frowning  down  anything  approach 
ing  lavishness,  the  headquarters'  table  would  have 
made  a  much  better  show.  During  this  period  of 
the  war,  Bryan  was  so  handicapped  by  the  universal 
scarcity  of  all  sorts  of  provisions  that  his  talents 
were  almost  entirely  hidden.  The  ladies  not  only 
were  anxious  to  feed  the  General,  but  also  to  clothe  him. 
From  Camp  Petersburg  he  writes  to  my  mother, 
June  24th: 

" .  .  .  The  ladies  of  Petersburg  have  sent  me  a 
nice  set  of  shirts,  They  were  given  to  me  by  Mrs.  James 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC     133 

R.  Branch  and  her  mother,  Mrs.  Thomas  Branch.  In 
fact,  they  have  given  me  everything,  which  I  fear  they 
cannot  spare — vegetables,  bread,  milk,  ice-cream.  To-day 
one  of  them  sent  me  a  nice  peach — the  first  one  I  think  I 
have  seen  for  two  years.  I  sent  it  to  Mrs.  Shippen*. 
Mr.  Platt  had  services  again  to-day  under  the  trees  near 
my  camp.  We  had  quite  a  large  congregation  of  citizens, 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  our  usual  number  of  soldiers. 
During  the  services,  I  constantly  heard  the  shells  crashing 
among  the  houses  of  Petersburg.  Tell  'Life'f  I  send 
her  a  song  composed  by  a  French  soldier.  As  she  is  so 
learned  in  the  language,  I  want  her  to  send  me  a  reply 
in  verse." 

June  30,  1864,  the  anniversary  of  his  wedding  day,  he 
thus  writes  to  my  mother: 

" .  .  .  I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your  letter  yester 
day,  and  to  hear  that  you  were  better.  I  trust  that  you 
will  continue  to  improve  and  soon  be  as  well  as  usual. 
God  grant  that  you  may  be  entirely  restored  in  His  own 
good  time.  Do  you  recollect  what  a  happy  day  thirty- 
three  years  ago  this  was  ?  How  many  hopes  and  pleasures 
it  gave  birth  to !  God  has  been  very  merciful  and  kind 
to  us,  and  how  thankless  and  sinful  I  have  been.  I  pray 
that  He  may  continue  His  mercies  and  blessings  to  us, 
and  give  us  a  little  peace  and  rest  together  in  this 
world,  and  finally  gather  us  and  all  He  has  given  us 
around  His  throne  in  the  world  to  come.  The  Presi 
dent  has  just  arrived,  and  I  must  bring  my  letter  to  a 
close." 

My  mother  had  been  quite  ill  that  summer,  and  my 
father's  anxiety  for  her  comfort  and  welfare,  his  desire 
to  be  with  her  to  help  her,  was  very  great.  The  sick  in 

*An  invalid  lady,  in  the  yard  of  whose  country  place  ("Violet 
Bank")  Lee's  tents  were  pitched. 

t  His  pet  name  for  my  sister  Mildred. 


i34       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  Confederacy  at  this  period  of  universal  scarcity 
suffered  for  want  of  the  simplest  medicines.  All  that 
could  be  had  were  given  to  hospitals.  To  his  youngest 
daughter  the  General  writes,  and  sends  to  Mrs.  Lee  what 
little  he  could  find  in  the  way  of  fruit: 

".  .  .  I  received  this  morning  by  your  brother 
your  note  of  the  3d,  and  am  glad  to  hear  that  your  mother 
is  better.  I  sent  out  immediately  to  try  to  find  some 
lemons,  but  could  only  procure  two,  sent  to  me  by  a  kind 
lady,  Mrs.  Kirkland,  in  Petersburg.  These  were  gathered 
from  her  own  trees.  There  are  none  to  be  purchased. 
I  found  one  in  my  valise,  dried  up,  which  I  also  send,  as 
it  may  prove  of  some  value.  I  also  put  up  some  early 
apples  which  you  can  roast  for  your  mother,  and  one 
pear.  This  is  all  the  fruit  I  can  get.  You  must  go  to 
market  every  morning  and  see  if  you  cannot  find  some 
fruit  for  her.  There  are  no  lemons  to  be  had.  Tell  her 
lemonade  is  not  as  palatable  or  digestible  as  buttermilk. 
Try  to  get  some  good  buttermilk  for  her.  With  ice,  it  is 
delicious  and  very  nutritious." 

My  sister  Mildred  had  a  pet  squirrel  which  ran  about 
the  house  in  Richmond.  She  had  named  it  "Custis 
Morgan,"  after  her  brother  Custis,  and  General  John 
Morgan,  the  great  cavalry  leader  of  the  western  army. 
He  ventured  out  one  day  to  see  the  city,  and  never  re 
turned.  In  a  letter  to  Mildred,  July  loth,  my  father 
alludes  to  his  escape,  and  apparently  considers  it  a 
blessing : 

".  .  .  I  was  pleased  on  the  arrival  of  my  little 
courier  to  learn  that  you  were  better,  and  that  'Custis 
Morgan '  was  still  among  the  missing.  I  think  the  farther 
he  gets  from  you  the  better  you  will  be.  The  shells 
scattered  the  poor  inhabitants  of  Petersburg  so  that 
many  of  the  churches  are  closed.  Indeed,  they  have  been 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC     135 

visited  by  the  enemy's  shells.  Mr.  Platt,  pastor  of  the 
principal  Episcopal  church,  had  services  at  my  head 
quarters  to-day.  The  services  were  under  the  trees,  and 
the  discourse  on  the  subject  of  salvation.  .  .  ." 

About  this  time,  the  enemy,  having  been  at  work  on  a 
mine  for  nearly  a  month,  exploded  it,  and  attacked  our 
lines  with  a  large  force.  The  ensuing  contest  was  called  the 
Battle  of  the  Crater.  General  Lee,  having  suspected  that 
a  mine  was  being  run  under  his  works,  was  partly  pre 
pared  for  it,  and  the  attack  was  repulsed  very  quickly 
with  great  loss  to  the  enemy.  In  the  address  of  Capt. 
W.  Gordon  McCabe  before  the  Association  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia — November  2,  1876 — speaking  of 
this  event,  he  says: 

"  From  mysterious  paragraphs  in  the  Northern  papers, 
and  from  reports  of  deserters,  though  those  last  were 
vague  and  contradictory,  Lee  and  Beauregard  suspected 
that  the  enemy  was  mining  in  front  of  some  one  of  the 
three  salients  on  Beauregard 's  front,  and  the  latter  officer 
had  in  consequence  directed  counter-mines  to  be  sunk 
from  all  three,  meanwhile  constructing  gorge -lines  in  the 
rear  upon  which  the  troops  might  retire  in  case  of  sur 
prise  or  disaster.  .  .  .  But  the  counter-mining  on 
the  part  of  the  Confederates  was  after  a  time  discontinued, 
owing  to  the  lack  of  proper  tools,  the  inexperience  of  the 
troops  in  such  work,  and  the  arduous  nature  of  their 
service  in  the  trenches." 

The  mine  was  sprung  July  3oth.  On  the  3ist,  the 
General  writes: 

" .  .  .  Yesterday  morning  the  enemy  sprung  a  mine 
under  one  of  our  batteries  on  the  line  and  got  possession 
of  a  portion  of  our  intrenchments.  It  was  the  part 
defended  by  General  Beauregard's  troops.  I  sent  Gen- 


136       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

eral  Mahone  with  two  brigades  of  Hill's  corps,  who 
charged  into  them  handsomely,  recapturing  the  intrench- 
ments  and  guns,  twelve  stands  of  colours,  seventy-three 
officers,  including  General  Bartlett,  his  staff,  three 
colonels,  and  eight  hundred  and  fifty  enlisted  men. 
There  were  upward  of  five  hundred  of  his  dead  unburied 
in  the  trenches,  among  them  many  officers  and  blacks. 
He  suffered  severely.  He  has  withdrawn  his  troops  from 
the  north  side  of  the  James.  I  do  not  know  what  he  will 
attempt  next.  He  is  mining  on  other  points  along  our 
line.  I  trust  he  will  not  succeed  in  bettering  his  last 
attempt.  .  .  ." 

Grant,  by  means  of  a  pontoon  bridge,  permanently 
established  across  the  James,  was  able  to  move  his  troops 
very  quickly  from  one  side  to  the  other,  and  could  attack 
either  flank,  while  making  a  feint  on  the  opposite  one. 
This  occurred  several  times  during  the  summer,  but 
General  Lee  seemed  always  to  have  anticipated  the 
movement  and  to  be  able  to  distinguish  the  feint  from 
the  real  attack.  On  August  i4th,  he  speaks  of  one  of 
these  movements  in  a  letter  to  my  mother-, 

" .  .  .  I  have  been  kept  from  church  to-day  by  the 
enemy's  crossing  to  the  north  side  of  the  James  River 
and  the  necessity  of  moving  troops  to  meet  him.  I  do 
not  know  what  his  intentions  are.  He  is  said  to  be 
cutting  a  canal  across  the  Dutch  Gap,  a  point  in  the  river 
—but  I  cannot,  as  yet,  discover  it.  I  was  up  there  yes 
terday,  and  saw  nothing  to  indicate  it.  We  shall  ascer 
tain  in  a  day  or  two.  I  received  to-day  a  kind  letter 
from  Reverend  Mr.  Cole,  of  Culpeper  Court  House.  He 
is  a  most  excellent  man  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He 
says  there  is  not  a  church  standing  in  all  that  country, 
within  the  lines  formerly  occupied  by  the  enemy.  All 
are  razed  to  the  ground,  and  the  materials  used  often  for 
the  vilest  purposes.  Two  of  the  churches  at  the  Court 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC     137 

House  barely  escaped  destruction.  The  pews  were  all 
taken  out  to  make  seats  for  the  theatre.  The  fact  was 
reported  to  the  commanding  officer  by  their  own  men  of 
the  Christian  Commission,  but  he  took  no  steps  to  rebuke 
or  arrest  it.  We  must  suffer  patiently  to  the  end,  when 
all  things  will  be  made  right.  .  .  ." 

To  oppose  this  movement  (of  August  i4th),  which  was 
in  heavy  force,  our  cavalry  division  was  moved  over  to  the 
north  side,  together  with  infantry  and  artillery,  and  we 
had  a  very  lively  time  for  several  days.  In  the  engage 
ment  on  the  1 5th  of  August  I  was  shot  in  the  arm  and 
disabled  for  about  three  weeks.  The  wound  was  a  very 
simple  one — just  severe  enough  to  give  me  a  furlough, 
which  I  enjoyed  intensely.  Time  heals  all  wounds,  it  is 
said.  I  remember  it  cured  mine  all  too  soon,  for,  being 
on  a  wounded  leave,  provided  it  did  not  keep  one  in  bed, 
was  the  best  luck  a  soldier  could  have.  I  got  back  the 
last  of  September,  and  in  passing  stopped  to  see  my 
father.  I  take  from  General  Long  a  pen-picture  of  him 
at  this  time,  which  accords  with  my  own  recollection 
of  his  appearance: 

".  .  .  General  Lee  continued  in  excellent  health 
and  bore  his  many  cares  with  his  usual  equanimity.  He 
had  aged  somewhat  in  appearance  since  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  but  had  rather  gained  than  lost  in  physical 
vigour,  from  the  severe  life  he  had  led.  His  hair  had 
grown  gray,  but  his  face  had  the  ruddy  hue  of  health, 
and  his  eyes  were  as  clear  and  bright  as  ever.  His 
dress  was  always  a  plain,  gray  uniform,  with  cavalry  boots 
reaching  to  his  knees,  and  a  broad-brimmed  gray  felt 
hat.  He  seldom  wore  a  weapon,  and  his  only  mark  of 
rank  was  the  stars  on  his  collar.  Though  always  ab 
stemious  in  diet,  he  seemed  able  to  bear  any  amount 
of  fatigue,  being  capable  of  remaining  in  his  saddle 
all  day  and  at  his  desk  half  the  night." 


138       RECOLLECTIONS  OP  GENERAL  LEE 

I  cannot  refrain  from  further  quoting  from  trie  same 
author  this  beautiful  description  of  the  mutual  love, 
respect,  and  esteem  existing  between  kmy  father  and  his 
soldiers : 

"No  commander  was  ever  more  careful,  and  never 
had  care  for  the  comfort  of  an  army  given  rise  to  greater 
devotion.  He  was  constantly  calling  the  attention  of 
the  authorities  to  the  wants  of  his  soldiers,  making  every 
effort  to  provide  them  with  food  and  clothing.  The 
feeling  for  him  was  one  of  love,  not  of  awre  or  dread. 
They  could  approach  him  with  the  assurance  that  they 
would  be  received  with  kindness  and  consideration,  and 
that  any  just  complaint  would  receive  proper  attention. 
There  was  no  condescension  in  his  manner,  but  he  was 
ever  simple,  kind,  and  sympathetic,  and  his  men,  while 
having  unbounded  faith  in  him  as  a  leader,  almost  wor 
shipped  him  as  a  man.  These  relations  of  affection  and 
mutual  confidence  between  the  army  and  its  commander 
had  much  to  do  with  the  undaunted  bravery  displayed 
by  the  men,  and  bore  a  due  share  in  the  many  victories 
they  gained." 

Colonel  Charles  Marshall,  in  his  address  before  the 
"Association  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,"  also 
alludes  to  this  "wonderful  influnce  over  the  troops  under 
his  command.  I  can  best  describe  that  influence  by 
saying  that  such  was  the  love  and  veneration  of  the  men 
for  him  that  they  came  to  look  upon  the  cause  as  General 
Lee's  cause,  and  they  fought  for  it  because  they  loved 
him.  To  them  he  represented  cause,  country,  and  all." 

All  persons  who  were  ever  thrown  into  close  relations 
with  him  had  somewhat  these  same  feelings.  How 
could  they  help  it?  Here  is  a  letter  to  his  youngest 
daughter  which  shows  his  beautiful  love  and  tenderness 
for  us  all.  Throughout  the  war,  he  constantly  took  the 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC     139 

time  from  his  arduous  labours  to  send  to  his  wife  and 
daughters  such  evidences  of  his  affection  for  them: 

"CAMP  PETERSBURG,  November  6,  1864. 
"My  Precious  Life:  This  is  the  first  day  I  have  had 
leisure  to  answer  your  letter.  I  enjoyed  it  very  much  at 
the  time  of  its  reception,  and  have  enjoyed  it  since,  but 
I  have  often  thought  of  you  in  the  meantime,  and  have 
seen  you  besides.  Indeed,  I  may  say,  you  are  never 
out  of  my  thoughts.  I  hope  you  think  of  me  often,  and 
if  you  could  know  how  earnestly  I  desire  your  true  happi 
ness,  how  ardently  I  pray  you  may  be  directed  to  every 
good  and  saved  from  every  evil,  you  would  as  sincerely 
strive  for  its  accomplishment.  Now  in  your  youth 
you  must  be  careful  to  discipline  your  thoughts,  words, 
and  actions.  Habituate  yourself  to  useful  employment, 
regular  improvement,  and  to  the  benefit  of  all  those 
around  you.  You  have  had  some  opportunity  of  learn 
ing  the  rudiments  of  your  education — not  as  good  as  I 
should  have  desired,  but  I  am  much  cheered  by  the 
belief  that  you  availed  yourself  of  it — and  I  think  you 
are  now  prepared  by  diligence  and  study  to  learn  what 
ever  you  desire.  Do  not  allow  yourself  to  forget  what 
you  have  spent  so  much  time  and  labour  in  acquiring, 
but  increase  it  every  day  by  extended  application.  I 
hope  you  will  embrace  in  your  studies  all  useful  acquisi 
tions.  I  was  much  pleased  to  hear  that  while  at '  Bremo ' 
you  passed  much  of  your  time  in  reading  and  music.  All 
accomplishments  will  enable  you  to  give  pleasure,  and 
thus  exert  a  wholesome  influence.  Never  neglect  the 
means  of  making  yourself  useful  in  the  world.  I  think 
you  will  not  have  to  complain  of  Rob  again  for  neglecting 
your  schoolmates.  He  has  equipped  himself  with  a  new 
uniform  from  top  to  toe,  and,  with  a  new  and  handsome 
horse,  is  cultivating  a  marvellous  beard  and  preparing 
for  conquest.  I  went  down  on  the  lines  to  the  right, 
Friday,  beyond  Rowanty  Creek,  and  pitched  my  camp 
within  six  miles  of  Fitzhugh's  last  night.  Rob  came  up 


i4o       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

and  spent  the  night  with  me,  and  Fitzhugh  appeared 
early  in  the  morning.  They  rode  with  me  till  late  that 
day.  I  visited  the  battlefield  in  that  quarter,  and  General 
Hampton  in  describing  it  said  there  had  not  been  during 
the  war  a  more  spirited  charge  than  Fitzhugh 's  division 
made  that  day  up  the  Boydton  plank  road,  driving 
cavalry  and  infantry  before  him,  in  which  he  was  stopped 
by  night.  I  did  not  know  before  that  his  horse  had  been 
shot  under  him.  Give  a  great  deal  of  love  to  your  dear 
mother,  and  kiss  your  sisters  for  me.  Tell  them  they 
must  keep  well,  not  talk  too  much,  and  go  to  bed  early. 
"  Ever  your  devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


He  refers  in  this  letter  to  his  coming  down  near  our 
command,  and  my  brother's  visit  and  mine  to  him. 
Everything  was  quiet,  and  we  greatly  enjoyed  seeing 
him  and  being  with  him.  The  weather,  too,  was  fine, 
and  he  seemed  to  delight  in  our  ride  with  him  along  the 
lines.  I  don't  think  I  saw  him  but  once  more  until 
everything  was  over  and  we  met  in  Richmond.  Some 
time  before  this,  my  mother,  fearing  for  his  health  under 
the  great  amount  of  exposure  and  work  he  had  to  do, 
wrote  to  him  and  begged  him  to  take  better  care  of  him 
self.  In  his  reply,  he  says: 

" .  .  .  But  what  care  can  a  man  give  to  himself 
in  the  time  of  war?  It  is  from  no  desire  for  exposure 
or  hazard  that  I  live  in  a  tent,  but  from  necessity.  I 
must  be  where  I  can,  speedily,  at  all  times,  attend  to  the 
duties  of  my  position,  and  be  near  or  accessible  to  the 
officers  with  whom  I  have  to  act.  I  have  been  offered 
rooms  in  the  houses  of  our  citizens,  but  I  could  not  turn 
the  dwellings  of  my  kind  hosts  into  a  barrack  where 
officers,  couriers,  distressed  women,  etc.,  would  be 
entering  day  and  night.  .  .  ." 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OP  THE  POTOMAC     141 

General  Fitz  Lee,  in  his  life  of  my  father,  says  of  him 
at  this  time: 

"Self-possessed  and  calm,  Lee  struggled  to  solve  the 
huge  military  problem,  and  make  the  sum  of  smaller 
numbers  equal  to  that  of  greater  numbers.  .  .  .  His 
thoughts  ever  turned  upon  the  soldiers  of  his  army,  the 
ragged  gallant  fellows  around  him — whose  pinched 
cheeks  told  hunger  was  their  portion,  and  whose  shivering 
forms  denoted  the  absence  of  proper  clothing." 

His  letters  to  my  mother  during  the  winter  tell  how 
much  his  men  were  in  need.  My  mother  was  an  invalid 
from  rheumatism,  confined  to  a  rolling-chair.  To  help  the 
cause  with  her  own  hands  as  far  as  she  could,  she  was  con 
stantly  occupied  in  knitting  socks  for  the  soldiers,  and 
induced  all  around  her  to  do  the  same.  She  sent  them 
directly  to  my  father,  and  he  always  acknowledged  them. 
November  3oth,  he  says: 

".  .  .  I  received  yesterday  your  letter  on  the  2;th 
and  am  glad  to  learn  your  supply  of  socks  is  so  large. 
If  two  or  three  hundred  would  send  an  equal  number,  we 
should  have  a  sufficiency.  I  will  endeavour  to  have 
them  distributed  to  the  most  needy.  .  .  ." 

And  on  December   i7th: 

".  .  .  I  received  day  before  yesterday  the  box 
with  hat,  gloves,  and  socks;  also  the  barrel  of  apples. 
You  had  better  have  kept  the  latter,  as  it  would  have 
been  more  useful  to  you  than  to  me,  and  I  should  have 
enjoyed  its  consumption  by  you  and  the  girls  more  than 
by  me.  .  .  ." 

His  friends  and  admirers  were  constantly  sending  him 
presents ;  some,  simple  mementos  of  their  love  and  affec- 


i42       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

tion;  others,  substantial  and  material  comforts  for  the 
outer  and  inner  man.  The  following  letter,  from  its 
date,  is  evidently  an  acknowledgment  of  Christmas 
gifts  sent  him: 

"  December  3oth.  .  .  The  Lyons  furs  and  fur 
robe  have  also  arrived  safely,  but  I  can  learn  nothing 
of  the  saddle  of  mutton.  Bryan,  of  whom  I  inquired  as 
to  its  arrival,  is  greatly  alarmed  lest  it  has  been  sent  to 
the  soldiers'  dinner.  If  the  soldiers  get  it,  I  shall  be 
content.  I  can  do  very  well  without  it.  In  fact,  I 
should  rather  they  should  have  it  than  I.  .  .  ." 

The  soldiers'  " dinner"  here  referred  to  was  a  Christmas 
dinner,  sent  by  the  entire  country,  as  far  as  they  could, 
to  the  poor  starving  men  in  the  trenches  and  camps 
along  the  lines.  It  would  not  be  considered  much  now, 
but  when  the  conditions  were  such  as  my  father  describes 
when  he  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 

"  The  struggle  now  is  to  keep  the  army  fed  and  clothed. 
Only  fifty  men  in  some  regiments  have  shoes,  and  bacon  is 
only  issued  once  in  a  few  days," 

anything  besides  the  one-quarter  of  a  pound  of  bacon  and 
musty  corn-bread  was  a  treat  of  great  service,  and  might 
be  construed  as  "a  Christmas  dinner." 

I  have  mentioned  before  my  father's  devotion  to  chil 
dren.  This  sentiment  pervaded  his  whole  nature.  At 
any  time  the  presence  of  a  little  child  would  bring  a  bright 
ness  to  his  smile,  a  tender  softness  to  his  glance,  and  drive 
away  gloom  or  care.  Here  is  his  account  of  a  visit  paid 
him,  early  in  January,  1865,  by  three  little  women: 

" .  .  .  Yesterday  afternoon  three  little  girls  walked 
into  my  room,  each  with  a  small  basket.  The  eldest  car- 


FRONTING  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC     143 

ried  some  fresh  eggs,  laid  by  her  own  hens ;  the  second, 
some  pickles  made  by  her  mother;  the  third,  some  pop 
corn  grown  in  her  garden.  They  were  accompanied  by  a 
young  maid  with  a  block  of  soap  made  by  her  mother. 
They  were  the  daughters  of  a  Mrs.  Nottingham,  a  refugee 
from  Northampton  County,  who  lived  near  Eastville,  not 
far  from  'old  Arlington.'  The  eldest  of  the  girls,  whose 
age  did  not  exceed  eight  years,  had  a  small  wheel  on  which 
she  spun  for  her  mother,  who  wove  all  the  cloth  for  her 
two  brothers — boys  of  twelve  and  fourteen  years.  I  have 
not  had  so  pleasant  a  visit  for  a  long  time.  I  fortunately 
was  able  to  fill  their  baskets  with  apples,  which  dis 
tressed  poor  Bryan*,  and  I  begged  them  to  bring  me  noth 
ing  but  kisses  and  to  keep  the  eggs,  corn,  etc.,  for  them 
selves.  I  pray  daily  and  almost  hourly  to  our  Heavenly 
Father  to  come  to  the  relief  of  you  and  our  afflicted  coun 
try.  I  know  He  will  order  all  things  for  our  good,  and 
we  must  be  content." 
*  His  mess-steward. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

TH  E  SURRENDER 

FORT  FISHER  CAPTURED — LEE  MADE  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
—BATTLE  OF  FIVE  FORKS — RETREAT  OF  THE  ARMY  OF 
NORTHERN  VIRGINIA — FAREWELL  TO  HIS  MEN — THE 
GENERAL'S  RECEPTION  IN  RICHMOND  AFTER  THE  SUR 
RENDER — PRESIDENT  DAVIS  HEARS  THE  NEWS — LEE?S 
VISITORS — HIS  SON  ROBERT  TURNS  FARMER 

THE  year  1865  had  now  commenced.  The  strength  of 
that  thin  gray  line,  drawn  out  to  less  than  one  thousand 
men  to  the  mile,  which  had  repulsed  every  attempt  of  the 
enemy  to  break  through  it,  was  daily  becoming  less.  The 
capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  our  last  open  port,  January  i5th, 
cut  off  all  supplies  and  munitions  from  the  outside  world. 
Sherman  had  reached  Savannah  in  December,  from  which 
point  he  was  ready  to  unite  with  Grant  at  any  time. 
From  General  Lee's  letters,  official  and  private,  one  gets  a 
clear  view  of  the  desperateness  of  his  position.  He  had 
been  made  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  military  forces 
in  the  Confederate  States  on  February  6th.  In  his  order 
issued  on  accepting  this  command  he  says : 

".  .  .  Deeply  impressed  with  the  difficulties  and 
responsibilities  of  the  position,  and  humbly  invoking  the 
guidance  of  Almighty  God,  I  rely  for  success  upon  the 
courage  and  fortitude  of  the  army,  sustained  by  the 
patriotism  and  firmness  of  the  people,  confident  that  their 
united  efforts  under  the  blessing  of  Heaven  will  secure 
peace  and  independence.  .  .  ." 

144 


THE  SURRENDER  145 

General  Beauregard,  who  had  so  ably  defended  Peters 
burg  when  it  was  first  attacked,  and  who  had  assisted  so 
materially  in  its  subsequent  defense,  had  been  sent  to 
gather  troops  to  try  to  check  Sherman's  advance  through 
the  Carolinas.  But  Beauregard's  health  was  now  very 
bad,  and  it  was  feared  he  would  have  to  abandon  the  field. 
In  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  February  21, 
1865,  my  father  says: 

".  .  .  In  the  event  of  the  necessity  of  abandoning 
our  position  on  James  River,  I  shall  endeavour  to  unite 
the  corps  of  the  army  about  Burke  ville*,  so  as  to  retain 
communication  with  the  North  and  South  as  long  as 
practicable,  and  also  with  the  West.  I  should  think 
Lynchburg,  or  some  point  west,  the  most  advantageous 
place  to  which  to  remove  stores  from  Richmond.  This, 
however,  is  a  most  difficult  point  at  this  time  to  decide, 
and  the  place  may  have  to  be  changed  by  circumstances. 
It  was  my  intention  in  my  former  letter  to  apply  for 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  that  I  might  assign  him  to 
duty,  should  circumstances  permit.  I  have  had  no 
official  report  of  the  condition  of  General  Beauregard's 
health.  It  is  stated  from  many  sources  to  be  bad.  If  he 
should  break  down  entirely,  it  might  be  fatal.  In  that 
event,  I  should  have  no  one  with  whom  to  supply  his  place. 
I  therefore  respectfully  request  General  Johnston  may  be 
ordered  to  report  to  me,  and  that  I  may  be  informed  where 
he  is." 

In  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  written  the  next 
day: 

".  .  .  But  you  may  expect  Sheridan  to  move  up  the 
Valley,  and  Stoneman  from  Knoxville,  as  Sherman  draws 
near  Roanoke.  What  then  will  become  of  those  sections 
of  the  country  ?  I  know  of  no  other  troops  that  could  be 

*  Junction  of  Southside  and  Danville  Railroad. 


146       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

given  to  Beauregard.  Bragg  will  be  forced  back  by 
Schofield,  I  fear,  and,  until  I  abandon  James  River,  noth 
ing  can  be  sent  from  this  army.  Grant,  I  think,  is  now 
preparing  to  draw  out  by  his  left  with  the  intent  of  envel 
oping  me.  He  may  wait  till  his  other  columns  approach 
nearer,  or  he  may  be  preparing  to  anticipate  my  with 
drawal.  I  cannot  tell  yet.  .  .  .  Everything  of  value 
should  be  removed  from  Richmond.  It  is  of  the  first 
importance  to  save  all  powder.  The  cavalry  and  artillery 
of  the  army  are  still  scattered  for  want  of  provender,  and 
our  supply  and  ammunition  trains,  which  ought  to  be 
with  the  army  in  case  of  a  sudden  movement,  are  absent 
collecting  provisions  and  forage — some  in  western  Vir 
ginia  and  some  in  North  Carolina.  You  will  see  to  what 
straits  we  are  reduced ;  but  I  trust  to  work  out." 

On  the  same  day,  in  a  letter  to  my  mother,  he  writes : 

".  .  .  After  sending  my  note  this  morning,  I  re 
ceived  from  the  express  office  a  bag  of  socks.  You  will 
have  to  send  down  your  offerings  as  soon  as  you  can,  and 
bring  your  work  to  a  close,  for  I  think  General  Grant  will 
move  against  us  soon — within  a  week,  if  nothing  prevents 
— and  no  man  can  tell  what  may  be  the  result ;  but  trust 
ing  to  a  merciful  God,  who  does  not  always  give  the  battle 
to  the  strong,  I  pray  we  may  not  be  overwhelmed.  I 
shall,  however,  endeavour  to  do  my  duty  and  fight  to  the 
last.  Should  it  be  necessary  to  abandon  our  position  to 
prevent  being  surrounded,  what  will  you  do  ?  You  must 
consider  the  question,  and  make  up  your  mind.  It  is  a 
fearful  condition,  and  we  must  rely  for  guidance  and  pro 
tection  upon  a  kind  Providence.  .  .  ." 

About  this  time,  I  saw  my  father  for  the  last  time  until 
after  the  surrender.  We  had  been  ordered  up  to  the  army 
from  our  camp  nearly  forty  miles  away,  reaching  the 
vicinity  of  Petersburg  the  morning  of  the  attack  of 
General  Gordon  on  Fort  Stedman,  on  March  25th.  My 


THE  SURRENDER  I47 

brother  and  I  had  ridden  ahead  of  the  division  to  report 
its  presence,  when  we  met  the  General  riding  Traveller, 
almost  alone,  back  from  that  part  of  the  lines  opposite  the 
fort.  Since  then  I  have  often  recalled  the  sadness  of  his 
face,  its  careworn  expression.  When  he  caught  sight  of 
his  two  sons,  a  bright  smile  at  once  lit  up  his  countenance, 
and  he  showed  very  plainly  his  pleasure  at  seeing  us.  He 
thanked  my  brother  for  responding  so  promptly  to  his  call 
upon  him,  and  regretted  that  events  had  so  shaped  them 
selves  that  the  division  would  not  then  be  needed,  as  he 
had  hoped  it  would  be. 

No  good  results  followed  Gordon's  gallant  attack.  His 
supports  did  not  come  up  at  the  proper  time,  and  our 
losses  were  very  heavy,  mostly  prisoners.  Two  days 
after  this,  Sheridan,  with  ten  thousand  mounted  men, 
joined  Grant,  having  marched  from  the  Valley  of  Virginia 
via  Staunton  and  Charlottes ville.  On  the  28th,  every 
thing  being  ready,  General  Grant  commenced  to  turn  our 
right,  and  having  more  than  three  men  to  our  one,  he  had 
no  difficult  task.  On  that  very  day  my  father  wrote  to 
my  mother: 

".  .  .  I  have  received  your  note  with  a  bag  of  socks. 
I  return  the  bag  and  receipt.  The  count  is  all  right  this 
time.  I  have  put  in  the  bag  General  Scott's  autobiog 
raphy,  which  I  thought  you  might  like  to  read.  The 
General,  of  course,  stands  out  prominently,  and  does  not 
hide  his  light  under  a  bushel,  but  he  appears  the  bold, 
sagacious,  truthful  man  that  he  is.  I  inclose  a  note  from 
little  Agnes.  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  see  her  to-morrow, 
but  cannot  recommend  pleasure  trips  now.  .  .  ." 

On  April  ist  the  Battle  of  Five  Forks  was  fought,  where 
about  fifty  thousand  infantry  and  cavalry — more  men 
than  were  in  our  entire  army — attacked  our  extreme 


148       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

right  and  turned  it,  so  that,  to  save  our  communications, 
we  had  to  abandon  our  lines  at  Petersburg,  giving  up  that 
city  and  Richmond.  From  that  time  to  April  Qth  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  struggled  to  get  back  to  some 
position  where  it  could  concentrate  its  forces  and  make  a 
stand;  but  the  whole  world  knows  of  that  six-days' 
retreat.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  it  in  detail — 
indeed,  I  could  not  if  I  would,  for  I  was  not  present  all  the 
time — but  will  quote  from  those  who  have  made  it  a  study 
and  who  are  far  better  fitted  to  record  it  than  I  am. 
General  Early,  in  his  address  at  Lexington,  Virginia, 
January  19,  1872 — General  Lee's  birthday — eloquently 
and  briefly  describes  these  six  days  as  follows: 

".  .  .  The  retreat  from  the  lines  of  Richmond  and 
Petersburg  began  in  the  early  days  of  April,  and  the 
remnant  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  fell  back,  more 
than  one  hundred  miles,  before  its  overpowering  antago 
nist,  repeatedly  presenting  front  to  the  latter  and  giving 
battle  so  as  to  check  his  progress.  Finally,  from  mere 
exhaustion,  less  than  eight  thousand  men  with  arms  in 
their  hands,  of  the  noblest  army  that  ever  fought  '  in  the 
tide  of  time/  were  surrendered  at  Appomattox  to  an 
army  of  150,000  men;  the  sword  of  Robert  E.  Lee,  with 
out  a  blemish  on  it,  was  sheathed  forever ;  and  the  flag, 
to  which  he  had  added  such  luster,  was  furled,  to  be, 
henceforth,  embalmed  in  the  affectionate  remembrance  of 
those  who  remained  faithful  during  all  our  trials,  and  will 
do  so  to  the  end." 

Colonel  Archer  Anderson,  in  his  address  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  Lee  monument  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  May  29, 
1890,  speaking  of  the  siege  of  Petersburg  and  of  the  sur 
render,  utters  these  noble  words: 

".  .  .  Of  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  I  have  only  time 
to  say  that  in  it  for  nine  months  the  Confederate  com- 


THE  SURRENDER  140, 

mander  displayed  every  art  by  which  genius  and  courage 
can  make  good  the  lack  of  numbers  and  resources.  But 
the  increasing  misfortunes  of  the  Confederate  arms  on 
other  theatres  of  the  war  gradually  cut  off  the  supply  of 
men  and  means.  The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  ceased 
to  be  recruited,  it  ceased  to  be  adequately  fed.  It  lived 
for  months  on  less  than  one-third  rations.  It  was  demor 
alised,  not  by  the  enemy  in  its  front,  but  by  the  enemy 
in  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas.  It  dwindled  to  35,000  men, 
holding  a  front  of  thirty-five  miles ;  but  over  the  enemy  it 
still  cast  the  shadow  of  its  great  name.  Again  and  again, 
by  a  bold  offensive,  it  arrested  the  Federal  movement  to 
fasten  on  its  communications.  At  last,  an  irresistible 
concentration  of  forces  broke  through  its  long  thin  line  of 
battle.  Petersburg  had  to  be  abandoned.  Richmond 
was  evacuated.  Trains  bearing  supplies  were  intercepted, 
and  a  starving  army,  harassed  for  seven  days  by  incessant 
attacks  on  rear  and  flank,  found  itself  completely  hemmed 
in  by  overwhelming  masses.  Nothing  remained  to  it  but 
its  stainless  honour,  its  unbroken  courage.  In  those  last 
solemn  scenes,  when  strong  men,  losing  all  self-control, 
broke  down  and  sobbed  like  children,  Lee  stood  forth  as 
great  as  in  the  days  of  victory  and  triumph.  No  disaster 
crushed  his  spirit,  no  extremity  of  danger  ruffled  his  bear 
ing.  In  the  agony  of  dissolution  now  invading  that  proud 
army,  which  for  four  years  had  wrested  victory  from  every 
peril,  in  that  blackness  of  utter  darkness,  he  preserved  the 
serene  lucidity  of  his  mind.  He  looked  the  stubborn  facts 
calmly  in  the  face,  and  when  no  military  resource  re 
mained,  when  he  recognised  the  impossibility  of  making 
another  march  or  fighting  another  battle,  he  bowed  his 
head  in  submission  to  that  Power  which  makes  and 
unmakes  nations.  The  surrender  of  the  fragments  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  closed  the  imperishable  record 
of  his  military  life.  ..." 

From  the  London  Standard,  at  the  time  of  his  last  ill 
ness,  I  quote  these  words  relating  to  this  retreat : 


150       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"  When  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  marched  out  of 
the  lines  around  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  it  still  num 
bered  some  twenty-six  thousand  men.  After  a  retreat 
of  six  days,  in  the  face  of  an  overwhelming  enemy,  with  a 
crushing  artillery — a  retreat  impeded  by  constant  fighting 
and  harassed  by  countless  hordes  of  cavalry — eight  thou 
sand  were  given  up  by  the  capitulation  at  Appomattox 
Court  House.  Brilliant  as  were  General  Lee's  earlier 
triumphs,  we  believe  that  he  gave  higher  proofs  of  genius 
in  his  last  campaign,  and  that  hardly  any  of  his  victories 
were  so  honourable  to  himself  and  his  army  as  that  of  his 
six-days'  retreat." 

Swinton,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac," 
after  justly  praising  its  deeds,  thus  speaks  of  its  great 
opponent,  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia: 

"Nor  can  there  fail  to  arise  the  image  of  that  other  ' 
army  that  was  the  adversary  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and — who  that  once  looked  upon  it  can  ever  forget  it  ? — 
that  array  of  tattered  uniforms  and  bright  muskets — that 
body  of  incomparable  infantry,  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  which,  for  four  years,  carried  the  revolt  on  its 
bayonets,  opposing  a  constant  front  to  the  mighty  con 
centration  of  power  brought  against  it ;  which,  receiving 
terrible  blows,  did  not  fail  to  give  the  like,  and  which, 
vital  in  all  its  parts,  died  only  with  its  annihilation."  J 

General  Long,  in  speaking  of  its  hardships  and  struggles 
during  the  retreat,  thus  describes  how  the  army  looked  up 
to  their  commander  and  trusted  him  to  bring  them 
through  all  their  troubles : 

"  General  Lee  had  never  appeared  more  grandly  heroic 
than  on  this  occasion.  All  eyes  were  raised  to  him  for  a 
deliverance  which  no  human  power  seemed  able  to  give. 
He  alone  was  expected  to  provide  food  for  the  starving 


THE  SURRENDER  151 

army  and  rescue  it  from  the  attacks  of  a  powerful  and 
eager  enemy.  Under  the  accumulation  of  difficulties,  his 
courage  seemed  to  expand,  and  wherever  he  appeared  his 
presence  inspired  the  weak  and  weary  with  renewed 
energy  to  continue  the  toilsome  march.  During  these 
trying  scenes  his  countenance  wore  its  habitual  calm, 
grave  expression.  Those  who  watched  his  face  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  what  was  passing  in  his  mind  could  gather 
thence  no  trace  of  his  inner  sentiments." 

No  one  can  tell  what  he  suffered.  He  did  in  all  things 
what  he  considered  right.  Self  he  absolutely  abandoned. 
As  he  said,  so  he  believed,  that  "human  virtue  should 
equal  human  calamity."  A  day  or  two  before  the  sur 
render,  he  said  to  General  Pendleton: 

".  .  .  I  have  never  believed  we  could,  against  the 
gigantic  combination  for  our  subjugation,  make  good  in 
the  long  run  our  independence  unless  foreign  powers 
should,  directly  or  indirectly,  assist  us.  .  .  .  But  such 
considerations  really  made  with  me  no  difference.  We 
had,  I  was  satisfied,  sacred  principles  to  maintain  and 
rights  to  defend,  for  which  we  were  in  duty  bound  to  do  . 
our  best,  even  if  we  perished  in  the  endeavour." 

After  his  last  attempt  was  made  with  Gordon  and  Fitz 
Lee  to  break  through  the  lines  of  the  enemy  in  the  early 
morning  of  the  gth,  and  Colonel  Venable  informed  him 
that  it  was  not  possible,  he  said : 

' 'Then  there  is  nothing  left  me  but  to  go  and  see  Gen 
eral  Grant."  When  some  one  near  him,  hearing  this, 
said: 

"  Oh,  General,  what  will  history  say  of  the  surrender  of 
the  army  in  the  field?"  he  replied: 

"  Yes,  I  know  they  will  say  hard  things  of  us ;  they  will 
not  understand  how  we  were  overwhelmed  by  numbers; 


152       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

'  I 

but  that  is  not  the  question,  Colonel ;  the  question  is,  is  it 

right  to  surrender  this  army?  If  it  is  right,  then  I  will 
take  all  the  responsibility." 

There  had  been  some  correspondence  with  Grant,  just 
before  the  conversation  with  General  Pendleton.  After 
Gordon's  attack  failed,  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  out,  and, 
about  eleven  o'clock,  General  Lee  went  to  meet  General 
Grant.  The  terms  of  surrender  were  agreed  upon,  and 
then  General  Lee  called  attention  to  the  pressing  needs 
of  his  men.  He  said: 

"  I  have  a  thousand  or  more  of  your  men  and  officers, 
whom  we  have  required  to  march  along  with  us  for  several 
days.  I  shall  be  glad  to  send  them  to  your  lines  as  soon 
as  it  can  be  arranged,  for  I  have  no  provisions  for  them. 
My  own  men  have  been  living  for  the  last  few  days  prin 
cipally  upon  parched  corn,  and  we  are  badly  in  need  of 
both  rations  and  forage." 

Grant  said  he  would  at  once  send  him  25,000  rations. 
General  Lee  told  him  that  amount  would  be  ample  and 
would  be  a  great  relief.  He  then  rode  back  to  his  troops. 
The  rations  issued  then  to  our  army  were  ^the  supplies 
destined  for  us  but  captured  at  Amelia  Court  House. 
Had  they  reached  us  in  time,  they  would  have  given  the 
half-starved  troops  that  were  left  strength  enough  to 
make  a  further  struggle.  General  Long  graphically  pic 
tures  the  last  scenes : 

"It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  anguish  of  the  troops 
when  it  was  known  that  the  surrender  of  the  army  was 
inevitable.  Of  all  their  trials,  this  was  the  greatest  and 
hardest  to  endure.  There  was  no  consciousness  of  shame ; 
each  heart  could  boast  with  honest  pride  that  its  duty  had 
been  done  to  the  end,  and  that  still  unsullied  remained  its 
honour.  When,  after  his  interview  with  General  Grant, 


THE  SURRENDER  153 

General  Lee  again  appeared,  a  shout  of  welcome  instinc 
tively  went  up  from  the  army.  But  instantly  recollecting 
the  sad  occasion  that  brought  him  before  them,  their 
shouts  sank  into  silence,  every  hat  was  raised,  and  the 
bronzed  faces  of  thousands  of  grim  warriors  were  bathed 
in  tears.  As  he  rode  slowly  along  the  lines,  hundreds  of 
his  devoted  veterans  pressed  around  the  noble  chief,  trying 
to  take  his  hand,  touch  his  person,  or  even  lay  their  hands 
upon  his  horse,  thus  exhibiting  for  him  their  great  affec 
tion.  The  General  then  with  head  bare,  and  tears  flowing 
freely  down  his  manly  cheeks,  bade  adieu  to  the  army." 

In  a  few  words:  "Men,  we  have  fought  through  the 
war  together ;  I  have  done  my  best  for  you ;  my  heart  is 
too  full  to  say  more,"  he  bade  them  good-bye  and  told 
them  to  return  to  their  homes  and  become  good  citizens. 
The  next  day  he  issued  his  farewell  address,  the  last  order 
published  to  the  army: 

"  HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA, 

April   10,   1865. 

"After  four  years'  of  arduous  service,  marked  by  unsur 
passed  courage  and  fortitude,  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir 
ginia  has  been  compelled  to  yield  to  overwhelming  num 
bers  and  resources.  I  need  not  tell  the  survivors  of  so 
many  hard-fought  battles,  who  have  remained  steadfast 
to  the  last,  that  I  have  consented  to  this  result  from  no 
distrust  of  them ;  but,  feeling  that  valour  and  devotion 
could  accomplish  nothing  that  could  compensate  for  the 
loss  that  would  have  attended  the  continuation  of  the 
contest,  I  have  determined  to  avoid  the  useless  sacrifice 
of  those  whose  past  services  have  endeared  them  to  their 
countrymen.  By  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  officers 
and  men  can  return  to  their  homes  and  remain  there 
until  exchanged.  You  will  take  with  you  the  satisfaction 
that  proceeds  from  the  consciousness  of  duty  faithfully 
performed;  and  I  earnestly  pray  that  a  merciful  God 
will  extend  to  you  His  blessing  and  protection.  With  an 


154       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

increasing  admiration  of  your  constancy  and  devotion  to 
your  country,  and  a  grateful  remembrance  of  your  kind 
and  generous  consideration  of  myself,  I  bid  you  an  affec-    / 
tionate  farewell. 

"R.  E.  LEE,  General." 

General  Long  says  that  General  Meade  called  on  Gen 
eral  Lee  on  the  loth,  and  in  the  course  of  conversation 
remarked : 

"  Now  that  the  war  may  be  considered  over,  I  hope  you 
will  not  deem  it  improper  for  me  to  ask,  for  my  personal 
information,  the  strength  of  your  army  during  the  opera 
tions  about  Richmond  and  Petersburg."  General  Lee 
replied : 

"At  no  time  did  my  force  exceed  35,000  men;  often  it 
was  less."  With  a  look  of  surprise,  Meade  answered: 

"General,  you  amaze  me;  we  always  estimated  your 
force  at  about  seventy  thousand  men." 

General  de  Chanal,  a  French  officer,  who  was  present, 
states  that  General  Lee,  who  had  been  an  associate  of 
Meade 's  in  the  engineers  in  the  "old  army,"  said  to  him 
pleasantly : 

"Meade,  years  are  telling  on  you;  your  hair  is  getting 
quite  gray." 

"Ah,  General  Lee,"  was  Meade 's  prompt  reply,  "it  is 
not  the  work  of  years;  you  are  responsible  for  my  gray 
hairs ! " 

"Three  days  after  the  surrender,"  says  Long,  "the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  had  dispersed  in  every  direc 
tion,  and  three  weeks  later  the  veterans  of  a  hundred 
battles  had  exchanged  the  musket  and  the  sword  for  the 
implements  of  husbandry.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that 
never  before  was  there  an  army  disbanded  with  less  dis 
order.  Thousands  of  soldiers  were  set  adrift  on  the  world 


THE  SURRENDER  155 

without  a  penny  in  their  pockets  to  enable  them  to  reach 
their  homes.  Yet  none  of  the  scenes  of  riot  that  often 
follow  the  disbanding  of  armies  marked  their  course." 

A  day  or  two  after  the  surrender,  General  Lee  started 
for  Richmond,  riding  Traveller,  who  had  carried  him  so 
well  all  through  the  war.  He  was  accompanied  by  some 
of  his  staff.  On  the  way,  he  stopped  at  the  house  of  his 
eldest  brother,  Charles  Carter  Lee,  who  lived  on  the 
Upper  James  in  Powhatan  County.  He  spent  the  even 
ing  in  talking  with  his  brother,  but  when  bedtime  came, 
though  begged  by  his  host  to  take  the  room  and  bed  pre 
pared  for  him,  he  insisted  on  going  to  his  old  tent,  pitched 
by  the  roadside,  and  passed  the  night  in  the  quarters 
that  he  was  accustomed  to.  On  April  1 5th  he  arrived  in 
Richmond.  The  people  there  soon  recognised  him ;  men, 
women,  and  children  crowded  around  him,  cheering  and 
waving  hats  and  handkerchiefs.  It  was  more  like  the  A 
welcome  to  a  conqueror  than  to  a  defeated  prisoner  on  ' 
parole.  He  raised  his  hat  in  response  to  their  greetings, 
and  rode  quietly  to  his  home  on  Franklin  Street,  where 
my  mother  and  sisters  were  anxiously  awaiting  him. 
Thus  he  returned  to  that  private  family  life  for  which  he 
had  always  longed,  and  became  what  he  always  desired/ 
to  be — a  peaceful  citizen  in  a  peaceful  land. 

In  attempting  to  describe  these  last  days  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia,  I  have  quoted  largely  from  Long, 
Jones,  Taylor,  and  Fitz  Lee,  all  of  whom  have  given  more 
or  less  full  accounts  of  the  movements  of  both  armies. 

It  so  happened  that  shortly  after  we  left  pur  lines,  April 
2d  or  3d,  in  one  of  the  innumerable  contests,  my  horse 
was  shot,  and  in  getting  him  and  myself  off  the  field, 
having  no  choice  of  routes,  the  pursuing  Federal  cavalry 
intervened  between  me  and  the  rest  of  our  command,  so 


156       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

I  had  to  make  my  way  around  the  head  of  Sheridan's 
advance  squadrons  before  I  could  rejoin  our  forces. 
This  I  did  not  succeed  in  accomplishing  until  April  gth, 
the  day  of  the  surrender,  for  my  wounded  horse  had  to  be 
left  with  a  farmer,  who  kindly  gave  me  one  of  his  own  in 
exchange,  saying  I  could  send  him  back  when  I  was  able, 
or,  if  I  was  prevented,  that  I  could  keep  him  and  he  would 
replace  him  with  mine  when  he  got  well. 

As  I  was  riding  toward  Appomattox  on  the  gth,  I  met 
a  body  of  our  cavalry  with  General  T.  H.  Rosser  at  the 
head.  He  told  me  that  General  Lee  and  his  army  had 
surrendered,  and  that  this  force  had  made  its  way  out, 
and  was  marching  back  to  Lynchburg,  expecting  thence 
to  reach  General  Johnston's  army.  To  say  that  I  was 
surprised  does  not  express  my  feelings.  I  had  never 
heard  the  word  "surrender"  mentioned,  nor  even  sug 
gested,  in  connection  with  our  general  or  our  army.  I 
could  not  believe  it,  and  did  not  until  I  was  positively 
assured  by  all  my  friends  who  were  with  Rosser's  column 
that  it  was  absolutely  so.  Very  sadly  I  turned  back  and 
went  to  Lynchburg  along  with  them.  There  I  found 
some  wagons  from  our  headquarters  which  had  been  sent 
back,  and  with  them  the  horses  and  servants  of  the  staff. 
These  I  got  together,  not  believing  for  an  instant  that 
our  struggle  was  over,  and,  with  several  officers  from 
our  command  and  others,  we  made  our  way  to  Greens 
boro,  North  Carolina.  There  I  found  Mr.  Davis  and  his 
cabinet  and  representatives  of  the  Confederate  depart 
ments  from  Richmond.  There  was  a  great  diversity  of 
opinion  amongst  all  present  as  to  what  we  should  do. 
After  waiting  a  couple  of  days,  looking  over  the  situation 
from  every  point  of  view,  consulting  with  my  uncle, 
Commodore  S.  S.  Lee,  of  the  Confederate  Navy,  and  with 


THE  SURRENDER  157 

many  others,  old  friends  of  my  father  and  staunch  adher 
ents  of  the  Southern  cause,  it  was  determined  to  go  back 
to  Virginia  to  get  our  paroles,  go  home,  and  go  to  work. 

While  at  Greensboro  I  went  to  see  President  Davis, 
just  before  he  proceeded  on  his  way  farther  south.  He 
was  calm  and  dignified,  and,  in  his  conversation  with 
several  officers  of  rank  who  were  there,  seemed  to  think, 
and  so  expressed  himself,  that  our  cause  was  not  lost, 
though  sorely  stricken,  and  that  we  could  rally  our 
forces  west  of  the  Mississippi  and  make  good  our  fight. 
While  I  was  in  the  room,  Mr.  Davis  received  the  first 
official  communication  from  General  Lee  of  his  surrender. 
Colonel  John  Taylor  Wood,  his  aide-de-camp,  had  taken 
me  in  to  see  the  President,  and  he  and  I  were  standing 
by  him  when  the  despatch  from  General  Lee  was  brought 
to  him.  After  reading  it,  he  handed  it  without  comment 
to  us ;  then,  turning  away,  he  silently  wept  bitter  tears. 
He  seemed  quite  broken  at  the  moment  by  this  tangible 
evidence  of  the  loss  of  his  army  and  the  misfortune  of 
its  general.  All  of  us,  respecting  his  great  grief,  silently 
withdrew,  leaving  him  with  Colonel  Wood.  I  never 
saw  him  again. 

I  started  for  Richmond,  accompanied  by  several  com 
panions,  with  the  servants  and  horses  belonging  to  our 
headquarters.  These  I  had  brought  down  with  me  from 
Lynchburg,  where  I  had  found  them  after  the  surrender. 
After  two  weeks  of  marching  and  resting,  I  arrived  in 
Richmond  and  found  my  father  there,  in  the  house  on 
Franklin  Street,  now  the  rooms  of  the  "Virginia  Histori 
cal  Society,"  and  also  my  mother,  brother,  and  sisters. 
They  were  all  much  relieved  at  my  reappearance. 

As  well  as  I  can  recall  my  father  at  this  time,  he 
appeared  to  be  very  well  physically,  though  he  looked 


158       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

older,  grayer,  more  quiet  and  reserved.  He  seemed  very 
tired,  and  was  always  glad  to  talk  of  any  other  subject 
than  that  of  the  war  or  anything  pertaining  thereto. 
We  all  tried  to  cheer  and  help  him.  And  the  people  of 
Richmond  and  of  the  entire  South  were  as  kind  and 
considerate  as  it  was  possible  to  be.  Indeed,  I  think 
their  great  kindness  tired  him.  He  appreciated  it  all, 
was  courteous,  grateful,  and  polite,  but  he  had  been  under 
such  a  terrible  strain  for  several  years  that  he  needed  the 
time  and  quiet  to  get  back  his  strength  of  heart  and  mind. 
All  sorts  and  conditions  of  people  came  to  see  him :  officers 
and  soldiers  from  both  armies,  statesmen,  politicians, 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  mothers  and  wives  to  ask  about 
husbands  and  sons  of  whom  they  had  heard  nothing. 
To  keep  him  from  being  overtaxed  by  this  incessant 
stream  of  visitors,  we  formed  a  sort  of  guard  of  the  young 
men  in  the  house,  some  of  whom  took  it  by  turns  to  keep 
the  door  and,  if  possible,  turn  strangers  away.  My 
father  was  gentle,  kind,  and  polite  to  all,  and  never 
willingly,  so  far  as  I  know,  refused  to  see  any  one. 

Dan  Lee,  late  of  the  Confederate  States  Navy,  my 
first  cousin,  and  myself,  one  day  had  charge  of  the  front 
door,  when  at  it  appeared  a  Federal  soldier,  accompanied 
by  a  darkey  carrying  a  large  willow  basket  filled  to  the 
brim  with  provisions  of  every  kind.  The  man  was  Irish 
all  over,  and  showed  by  his  uniform  and  carriage  that 
he  was  a  "regular, "  and  not  a  volunteer.  On  our  asking 
him  what  he  wanted,  he  replied  that  he  wanted  to  see 
General  Lee,  that  he  had  heard  down  the  street  the  General 
and  his  family  were  suffering  for  lack  of  something  to 
eat,  that  he  had  been  with  "the  Colonel"  when  he  com 
manded  the  Second  Cavalry,  and,  as  long  as  he  had  a 
cent,  his  old  colonel  should  not  suffer.  My  father,  who 


THE  SURRENDER  159 

h«d  stepped  into  another  room  as  he  heard  the  bell  ring, 
hearing  something  of  the  conversation,  came  out  into 
the  hall.  The  old  Irishman,  as  soon  as  he  saw  him,  drew 
himself  up  and  saluted,  and  repeated  to  the  General, 
with  tears  streaming  down  his  cheeks,  what  he  had  just 
said  to  us.  My  father  was  very  much  touched,  thanked 
him  heartily  for  his  kindness  and  generosity,  but  told 
him  that  he  did  not  need  the  things  he  had  brought  and 
could  not  take  them.  This  seemed  to  disappoint  the 
old  soldier  greatly,  and  he  pleaded  so  hard  to  be  allowed 
to  present  the  supplies  to  his  old  colonel,  whom  he  believed 
to  be  in  want  of  them,  that  at  last  my  father  said  that  he 
would  accept  the  basket  and  send  it  to  the  hospital,  for 
the  sick  and  wounded,  who  were  really  in  great  need. 
Though  he  was  not  satisfied,  he  submitted  to  this  com 
promise,  and  then  to  our  surprise  and  dismay,  in  bidding 
the  General  good-bye,  threw  his  arms  around  him  and 
was  attempting  to  kiss  him,  when  "Dan"  and  I  inter 
fered.  As  he  was  leaving,  he  said: 

"Good-bye,  Colonel !  God  bless  ye  !  If  I  could  have 
got  over  in  time  I  would  have  been  with  ye !" 

A  day  or  two  after  that,  when  "  Dan"  was  doorkeeper, 
three  Federal  officers,  a  colonel,  a  major,  and  a  doctor, 
called  and  asked  to  see  General  Lee.  They  were  shown 
into  the  parlour,  presented  their  cards,  and  said  they 
desired  to  pay  their  respects  as  officers  of  the  United 
States  Army.  When  Dan  went  out  with  the  three  cards, 
he  was  told  by  some  one  that  my  father  was  up  stairs 
engaged  with  some  other  visitor,  so  he  returned  and  told 
them  this  and  they  departed.  When  my  father  came 
down,  was  shown  the  cards  and  told  of  the  three  visitors, 
he  was  quite  put  out  at  Dan's  not  having  brought  him 
the  cards  at  the  time,  and  that  afternoon  mounted  him  on 


160       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

one  of  his  horses  and  sent  him  over  to  Manchester,  where 
they  were  camped,  to  look  up  the  three  officers  and  to 
tell  them  he  would  be  glad  to  see  them  at  any  time  they 
might  be  pleased  to  call.  However,  Dan  failed  to  find 
them. 

He  had  another  visit  at  this  time  which  affected  him 
deeply.  Two  Confederate  soldiers  in  very  dilapidated 
clothing,  worn  and  emaciated  in  body,  came  to  see  him. 
They  said  they  had  been  selected  from  about  sixty  other 
fellows,  too  ragged  to  come  themselves,  to  offer  him  a 
home  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia.  The  home  was  a 
good  house  and  farm,  and  near  by  was  a  defile,  in  some 
rugged  hills,  from  which  they  could  defy  the  entire  Fed 
eral  Army.  They  made  this  offer  of  a  home  and  their 
protection  because  there  was  a  report  that  he  was 
about  to  be  indicted  for  treason.  The  General  had  to 
decline  to  go  with  them,  but  the  tears  came  into  his  eyes 
at  this  hearty  exhibition  of  loyalty. 

After  being  in  Richmond  a  few  days,  and  by  the  advice 
of  my  father  getting  my  parole  from  the  United  States 
Provost  Marshal  there,  the  question  as  to  what  I  should 
do  came  up.  My  father  told  me  that  I  could  go  back  to 
college  if  I  desired  and  prepare  myself  for  some  profes 
sion — that  he  had  a  little  money  which  he  would  be 
willing  and  glad  to  devote  to  the  completion  of  my 
education.  I  think  he  was  strongly  in  favour  of  my 
going  back  to  college.  At  the  same  time  he  told  me 
that,  if  I  preferred  it,  I  could  take  possession  of  my  farm 
land  in  King  William  County,  which  I  had  inherited 
from  my  grandfather,  Mr.  Custis,  and  make  my  home 
there.  As  there  was  little  left  of  the  farm  but  the  land, 
he  thought  he  could  arrange  to  help  me  build  a  house 
and  purchase  stock  and  machinery. 


THE  SURRENDER  161 

My  brother,  General  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  had  already  gone 
down  to  his  place,  "The  White  House"  in  New  Kent 
County,  with  Major  John  Lee,  our  first  cousin,  had  erected 
a  shanty,  and  gone  to  work,  breaking  up  land  for  a  corn 
crop,  putting  their  cavalry  horses  to  the  plow.  As  I 
thought  my  father  had  use  for  any  means  he  might  have 
in  caring  for  my  mother  and  sisters,  and  as  I  had  this 
property,  I  determined  to  become  a  farmer.  However, 
I  did  not  decide  positively,  and  in  the  meantime  it  was 
thought  best  that  I  should  join  my  brother  and  cousin  at 
the  White  House  and  help  them  make  their  crop  of  corn. 
In  returning  to  Richmond,  I  had  left  at  "Hickory  Hill," 
General  Wickham's  place  in  Hanover  County,  our  horses 
and  servants,  taken  with  me  from  Lynchburg  to  Greens 
boro  and  back.  So  bidding  all  my  friends  and  family 
good-bye,  I  went  by  rail  to  "Hickory  Hill"  and  started 
the  next  day  with  three  servants  and  about  eight  horses 
for  New  Kent,  stopping  the  first  night  at  "Pampatike." 
The  next  day  I  reached  the  White  House,  where  the 
reinforcements  I  brought  with  me  were  hailed  with 
delight. 

Though  I  have  been  a  farmer  from  that  day  to  this,  I 
will  say  that  the  crop  of  corn  which  we  planted  that 
summer,  with  ourselves  and  army  servants  as  laborers 
and  our  old  cavalry  horses  as  teams,  and  which  we  did 
not  finish  planting  until  the  Qth  of  June,  was  the  best  I 
ever  made. 


CHAPTER  IX 
A  PRIVATE  CITIZEN 

LEE'S  CONCEPTION  OF  THE  PART — HIS  INFLUENCE  EXERTED 
TOWARD  THE  RESTORATION  OF  VIRGINIA — HE  VISITS 
OLD  FRIENDS  THROUGHOUT  THE  COUNTRY — RECEIVES 
OFFERS  OF  POSITIONS — COMPARES  NOTES  WITH  THE 
UNION  GENERAL  HUNTER — LONGS  FOR  A  COUNTRY 
HOME — FINDS  ONE  AT  "DERWENT,"  NEAR  CARTERS- 
VILLE 

MY  father  remained  quietly  in  Richmond  with  my 
mother  and  sisters.  He  was  now  a  private  citizen  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life.  As  he  had  always  been  a  good 
soldier,  so  now  he  became  a  good  citizen.  My  father's  ) 
advice  to  all  his  old  officers  and  men  was  to  submit  to 
the  authority  of  the  land  and  to  stay  at  home,  now  that 
their  native  States  needed  them  more  than  ever.  His 
advice  and  example  had  great  influence  with  all.  In  a 
letter  to  Colonel  Walter  Taylor,*  he  speaks  on  this  point: 

" .  .  .  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  our  returned  soldiers 
cannot  obtain  employment.  Tell  them  they  must  all 
set  to  work,  and  if  they  cannot  do  what  they  prefer, 
do  what  they  can.  Virginia  wants  all  their  aid,  all  their 
support,  and  the  presence  of  all  her  sons  to  sustain  and 
recuperate  her.  They  must  therefore  put  themselves  in 
a  position  to  take  part  in  her  government,  and  not  be 
deterred  by  obstacles  in  their  way.  There  is  much  to 
be  done  which  they  only  can  do.  .  .  ." 

*  His  old  A.  A.  G. 

162 


A  PRIVATE  CITIZEN  163 

And  in  a  letter,  a  month  later,  to  an  officer  asking  his 
opinion  about  a  decree  of  the  Emperor  of  Mexico  en 
couraging  the  emigration  from  the  South  to  that  country : 

I  do  not  know  how  far  their  emigration  to 
another  land  will  conduce  to  their  prosperity.  Although 
prospects  may  not  now  be  cheering,  I  have  entertained 
the  opinion  that,  unless  prevented  by  circumstances  or 
necessity,  it  would  be  better  for  them  and  the  country 
if  they  remained  at  their  homes  and  shared  the  fate  of 
their  respective  States.  ..."  4 

Again,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Letcher*: 

".  .  .  The  duty  of  its  citizens,  then,  appears  to"") 
me  too  plain  to  admit  of  doubt.  All  should  unite  in 
honest  efforts  to  obliterate  the  effects  of  the  war  and  to 
restore  the  blessings  of  peace.  They  should  remain,  if 
possible,  in  the  country;  promote  harmony  and  good 
feeling,  qualify  themselves  to  vote  and  elect  to  the  State 
and  general  legislatures  wise  and  patriotic  men,  who 
will  devote  their  abilities  to  the  interests  of  the  country 
and  the  healing  of  all  dissensions.  I  have  invariably 
recommended  this  course  since  the  cessation  of  hostilities, 
and  have  endeavoured  to  practise  it  myself.  .  .  ."  J 

Also  in  a  letter  of  still  later  date,  to  Captain  Josiah 
Tatnall,  of  the  Confederate  States  Navy,  he  thus  em 
phasises  the  same  sentiment: 

".  .  .  I  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  every  one  to 
unite  in  the  restoration  of  the  country  and  the  re- 
establishment  of  peace  and  harmony.  These  consider 
ations  governed  me  in  the  counsels  I  gave  to  others,  and 
induced  me  on  the  i3th  of  June  to  make  application 
to  be  included  in  the  terms  of  the  amnesty  proclama 
tion.  .  .  ." 

*  The  "War  Governor"  of  Virginia. 


164       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

These  letters  and  many  more  show  plainly  his  concep 
tion  of  what  was  right  for  all  to  do  at  this  time.  I  have 
heard  him  repeatedly  give  similar  advice  to  relatives 
and  friends  and  to  strangers  who  sought  it.  The  follow 
ing  letters  to  General  Grant  and  to  President  Johnson 
show  how  he  gave  to  the  people  of  the  South  an  example 
of  quiet  submission  to  the  government  of  the  country : 

" RICHMOND,  Virginia,  June  13,  1865. 
"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  Commanding  the 

"Armies  of  the  United  States. 

"General:  Upon  reading  the  President's  proclamation 
of  the  2 Qth  ult.,  I  came  to  Richmond  to  ascertain  what 
was  proper  or  required  of  me  to  do,  when  I  learned 
that,  with  others,  I  was  to  be  indicted  for  treason  by 
the  grand  jury  at  Norfolk.  I  had  supposed  that  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  were, 
by  the  terms  of  their  surrender,  protected  by  the  United 
States  Government  from  molestation  so  long  as  they 
conformed  to  its  conditions.  I  am  ready  to  meet  any 
charges  that  may  be  preferred  against  me,  and  do  not 
wish  to  avoid  trial ;  but,  if  I  am  correct  as  to  the  protection 
granted  by  my  parole,  and  am  not  to  be  prosecuted,  I 
desire  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  the  President's 
proclamation,  and,  therefore,  inclose  the  required  applica 
tion,  which  I  request,  in  that  event,  may  be  acted  on.  I 
am,  with  great  respect, 

"Your  obedient  servant,  R.  E.  LEE." 

"RICHMOND,  Virginia,  June  13,  1865. 
"  His  EXCELLENCY  ANDREW  JOHNSON, 
"President  of  the  United  States. 

"  Sir:  Being  excluded  from  the  provisions  of  the 
amnesty  and  pardon  contained  in  the  proclamation  of 
the  2 Qth  ult.,  I  hereby  apply  for  the  benefits  and  full 
restoration  of  all  rights  and  privileges  extended  to  those 
included  in  its  terms.  I  graduated  at  the  Military 


A  PRIVATE   CITIZEN  165 

Academy  at  West  Point  in  June,  1829 ;  resigned  from  the 
United  States  Army,  April,  1861 ;  was  a  general  in  the 
Confederate  Army,  and  included  in  the  surrender  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  April  9,  1865.  I  have  the 
honour  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

"Your  obedient  servant,          R.  E.  LEE." 

Of  this  latter  letter,  my  brother,  Custis  Lee,  writes 
me: 

4 'When  General  Lee  requested  me  to  make  a  copy  of 
this  letter,  he  remarked  it  was  but  right  for  him  to  set  an 
example  of  making  formal  submission  to  the  civil  author 
ities,  and  that  he  thought,  by  so  doing,  he  might  possibly 
be  in  a  better  position  to  be  of  use  to  the  Confederates 
who  were  not  protected  by  military  paroles,  especially 
Mr.  Davis." 

Colonel  Charles  Marshall*  says: 

" .  .  .  He  (General  Lee)  set  to  work  to  use  his  great 
influence  to  reconcile  the  people  of  the  South  to  the 
hard  consequences  of  their  defeat,  to  inspire  them  with 
hope,  to  lead  them  to  accept,  freely  and  frankly,  the 
government  that  had  been  established  by  the  result  of 
the  war,  and  thus  relieve  them  from  the  military  rule. 
.  The  advice  and  example  of  General  Lee  did  more 
to  incline  the  scale  in  favour  of  a  frank  and  manly 
adoption  of  that  course  of  conduct  which  tended  to  the 
restoration  of  peace  and  harmony  than  all  the  Federal 
garrisons  in  all  the  military  districts." 

My  father  was  at  this  time  anxious  to  secure  for  himself 
and  family  a  house  somewhere  in  the  country.  He  had 
always  had  a  desire  to  be  the  owner  of  a  small  farm, 
where  he  could  end  his  days  in  peace  and  quiet.  The 
life  in  Richmond  was  not  suited  to  him.  He  wanted 

*A  grandson  of  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  and  Lee's  military  secretary. 


1 66       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

quiet  and  rest,  but  could  not  get  it  there,  for  people  were 
too  attentive  to  him.  So  in  the  first  days  of  June  he 
mounted  old  Traveller  and,  unattended,  rode  down  to 
"Pampatike" — some  twenty-five  miles — to  pay  a  visit 
of  several  days  to  his  relations  there.  This  is  an  old 
Carter  property,  belonging  then  and  now  to  Colonel 
Thomas  H.  Carter,  who,  but  lately  returned  from  Appo- 
mattox  Court  House,  was  living  there  with  his  wife  and 
children.  Colonel  Carter,  whose  father  was  a  first  cousin 
of  General  Lee's,  entered  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
in  the  spring  of  1861,  as  captain  of  the  "King  William 
Battery,"  rose  grade  by  grade  by  his  skill  and  gallantry, 
and  surrendered  in  the  spring  of  1865,  as  Colonel  and 
Chief  of  Artillery  of  his  corps  at  that  time.  He  was 
highly  esteemed  and  much  beloved  by  my  father,  and 
our  families  had  been  intimate  for  a  long  time. 

"Pampatike"  is  a  large,  old-fashioned  plantation, 
lying  along  the  Pamunkey  River,  between  the  Piping 
Tree  and  New  Castle  ferries.  Part  of  the  house  is  very 
old,  and,  from  time  to  time,  as  more  rooms  were  needed, 
additions  have  been  made,  giving  the  whole  a  very 
quaint  and  picturesque  appearance.  At  the  old-fashioned 
dinner  hour  of  three  o'clock,  my  father,  mounted  on 
Traveller,  unannounced,  unexpected,  and  alone,  rode  up 
to  the  door.  The  horse  and  rider  were  at  once  recognised 
by  Colonel  Carter,  and  he  was  gladly  welcomed  by  his 
kinsfolk.  I  am  sure  the  days  passed  here  were  the 
happiest  he  had  spent  for  many  years.  He  was  very 
weary  of  town,  of  the  incessant  unrest  incident  to  his 
position,  of  the  crowds  of  persons  of  all  sorts  and  con 
ditions  striving  to  see  him;  so  one  can  imagine  the  joy 
of  master  and  horse  when,  after  a  hot  ride  of  over  twenty 
miles,  they  reached  this  quiet  resting-place.  My  father, 


A   PRIVATE   CITIZEN  167 

Colonel  Carter  tells  me,  enjoyed  every  moment  of  his 
stay.  There  were  three  children  in  the  house,  the  two 
youngest  little  girls  of  five  and  three  years  old.  These 
were  his  special  delight,  and  he  followed  them  around, 
talking  baby-talk  to  them  and  getting  them  to  talk  to 
him.  Every  morning  before  he  was  up  they  went  into 
his  room,  at  his  special  request,  to  pay  him  a  visit. 
Another  great  pleasure  was  to  watch  Traveller  enjoy 
himself.  He  had  him  turned  out  on  the  lawn,  where  the 
June  grass  was  very  fine,  abundant,  and  at  its  prime,  and 
would  allow  no  corn  to  be  fed  to  him,  saying  he  had  had 
plenty  of  that  during  the  last  four  years,  and  that  the 
grass  and  the  liberty  were  what  he  needed.  He  talked 
to  Colonel  Carter  much  about  Mexico,  its  people  and 
climate;  also  about  the  old  families  living  in  that  neigh 
bourhood  and  elsewhere  in  the  State,  with  whom  both 
Colonel  Carter  and  himself  were  connected;  but  he  said 
very  little  about  the  recent  war,  and  only  in  answer  to 
some  direct  question. 

About  six  miles  from  "Pampatike,"  on  the  same  river 
and  close  to  its  banks,  is  "Chericoke,"  another  old 
Virginia  homestead,  which  had  belonged  to  the  Braxtons 
for  generations,  and,  at  that  time,  was  the  home  of 
Corbin  Braxton's  widow.  General  Lee  was  invited  to 
dine  there,  and  to  meet  him  my  brother,  cousin  and  I, 
from  the  White  House,  were  asked,  besides  General 
Rosser,  who  was  staying  in  the  neighbourhood,  and 
several  others.  This  old  Virginia  house  had  long  been 
noted  for  its  lavish  hospitality  and  bountiful  table.  Mrs. 
Braxton  had  never  realised  that  the  war  should  make 
any  change  in  this  respect,  and  her  table  was  still  spread 
in  those  days  of  desolation  as  it  had  been  before  the  war, 
when  there  was  plenty  in  the  land.  So  we  sat  down  to 


i68       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

a  repast  composed  of  all  the  good  things  for  which  that 
country  was  famous.  John  and  I  did  not  seem  to  think 
there  was  too  much  in  sight — at  any  rate,  it  did  not 
daunt  us,  and  we  did  our  best  to  lessen  the  quantity,  con 
suming,  I  think,  our  share  and  more !  We  had  been  for 
so  many  years  in  the  habit  of  being  hungry  that  it  was 
not  strange  we  continued  to  be  so  awhile  yet.  But  my 
father  took  a  different  view  of  the  abundance  displayed, 
and,  during  his  drive  back,  said  to  Colonel  Carter: 

"  Thomas,  there  was  enough  dinner  to-day  for  twenty 
people.  All  this  will  now  have  to  be  changed ;  you  can 
not  afford  it ;  we  shall  have  to  practise  economy." 

In  talking  with  Colonel  Carter  about  the  situation  of 
farmers  at  that  time  in  the  South,  and  of  their  prospects 
for  the  future,  he  urged  him  to  get  rid  of  the  negroes  left  on 
the  farm — some  ninety-odd  in  number,  principally  women 
and  children,  with  a  few  old  men — saying  the  government 
would  provide  for  them,  and  advised  him  to  secure  white 
labour.  The  Colonel  told  him  he  had  to  use,  for  immediate 
needs,  such  force  as  he  had,  being  unable  at  that  time 
to  get  the  whites.  Wereupon  General  Lee  remarked: 

"  I  have  always  observed  that  wherever  you  find  the 
negro,  everything  is  going  down  around  him,  and  wherever 
you  find  the  white  man,  you  see  everything  around  him 
improving. '  * 

He  was  thinking  strongly  of  taking  a  house  in  the 
country  for  himself  and  family,  and  asked  the  Colonel 
whether  he  could  not  suggest  some  part  of  the  State  that 
might  suit  him.  Colonel  Carter  mentioned  Clarke  County 
as  representing  the  natural-grass  section  of  Virginia,  and 
Gloucester  County  the  salt-water.  My  father  unhesitat 
ingly  pronounced  in  favour  of  the  grass-growing  country. 
He  told  Mrs.  Carter  how  pleased  he  was  to  hear  that  she 


A  PRIVATE  CITIZEN  169 

had  received  her  husband  in  tears  when  he  returned  from 
the  surrender,  as  showing  the  true  spirit,  for,  though  glad 
to  see  him,  she  wept  because  he  could  fight  no  more  for 
the  cause.  The  day  after  this  dinner  he  had  to  turn  his 
back  on  these  dear  friends  and  their  sweet  home. 

When  Traveller  was  brought  up  to  the  door  for  him  to 
mount,  he  walked  all  around  him,  looking  carefully  at 
the  horse,  saddle,  and  bridle.     Apparently  the  blanket 
was  not  arranged  to  suit  him,  for  he  held  the  bridle  while 
" Uncle  Henry"  took  off  the  saddle.     Then  he  took  off 
the  blanket  himself,   spread  it  out  on  the  grass,   and, 
folding  it  to  suit  his  own  ideas  of  fitness,  carefully  placed 
it   on  Traveller's  back,   anc!   superintended  closely  the 
putting  on  and  girthing  of  the  saddle.     This  being  done, 
he  bade  everybody  good-bye,  and,  mounting  his  horse, 
rode  away  homeward — to  Richmond.     After  crossing  the 
Pamunkey  at  Newcastle  ferry,  he  rode  into  "Ingleside," 
about  a  mile  from  the  river,  the  lovely  home  of  Mrs. 
Mary    Braxton.     Here    he    dismounted    and    paid    his 
respects  to  the  mistress  of  the  house  and  her  daughters, 
who    were    also    cousins.     That    afternoon    he    reached 
Richmond,  returning  by  the  same  road  he  had  travelled 
coming  out.     After  this  visit,  which  he  had  enjoyed  so 
much,  he  began  looking  about  more  than  ever  to  find  a 
country  home. 

The  house  he  was  occupying  in  Richmond  belonged  to 
Mr.  John  Stewart,  of  "  Brook  Hill,''  who  was  noted  for  his 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  South  and  his  kindness  to 
all  those  who  had  suffered  in  the  conflict.  My  brother 
Custis  had  rented  it  at  the  time  he  was  appointed  on 
Mr.  Davis's  staff.  A  mess  had  been  established  there  by 
my  brother  and  several  other  officers  on  duty  in  Richmond. 
In  time,  my  mother  and  sister  had  been  made  members 


i  yo       RECOLLECTIONS  OP  GENERAL  LEE 

of  it,  and  it  had  been  the  headquarters  of  all  of  the 
family  during  the  war,  when  in  town.  My  father  was 
desirous  of  making  some  settlement  with  his  landlord  for 
its  long  use,  but  before  he  could  take  the  final  steps  my 
mother  received  the  following  note  from  Mr.  Stewart: 

".  .  .  I  am  not  presuming  on  your  good  opinion, 
when  I  feel  that  you  will  believe  me,  first,  that  you  and 
yours  are  heartily  welcome  to  the  house  as  long  as  your 
convenience  leads  you  to  stay  in  Richmond;  and,  next, 
that  you  owe  me  nothing,  but,  if  you  insist  on  paying,  that 
the  payment  must  be  in  Confederate  currency,  for  which 
alone  it  was  rented  to  your  son.  You  do  not  know  how 
much  gratification  it  is,  and  will  afford  me  and  my  whole 
family  during  the  remainder  of  our  lives,  to  reflect  that 
we  have  been  brought  into  contact,  and  to  know  and  to 
appreciate  you  and  all  that  are  dear  to  you." 

My  father  had  been  offered,  since  the  surrender,  houses, 
lands,  and  money,  as  well  as  positions  as  president  of 
business  associations  and  chartered  corporations. 

"An  English  nobleman,"  Long  says,  "desired  him  to 
accept  a  mansion  and  an  estate  commensurate  with  his 
individual  merits  and  the  greatness  of  an  historic  family." 

He  replied:  "  I  am  deeply  grateful;  I  cannot  desert  my 
native  State  in  the  hour  of  her  adversity.  I  must  abide 
her  fortunes,  and  share  her  fate." 

Until  his  death,  he  was  constantly  in  receipt  of  such 
offers,  all  of  which  he  thought  proper  to  decline.  He 
wrote  to  General  Long : 

"  I  am  looking  for  some  little,  quiet  home  in  the  woods, 
where  I  can  procure  shelter  and  my  daily  bread,  if  per 
mitted  by  the  victor.  I  wish  to  get  Mrs.  Lee  out  of  the 
city  as  soon  as  practical." 


A  PRIVATE   CITIZEN  171 

It  so  happened  that  nearly  exactly  what  he  was  looking 
for  was  just  then  offered  to  him.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ran 
dolph  Cocke,  of  Cumberland  County,  a  granddaughter 
of  Edmund  Randolph,  had  on  her  estate  a  small  cottage 
which,  with  the  land  attached,  she  placed  at  his  disposal. 
The  retired  situation  of  this  little  home,  and  the  cordial 
way  in  which  Mrs.  Cocke  insisted  on  his  coming,  induced 
my  father  to  accept  her  invitation. 

Captain  Edmund  Randolph  Cocke  *  writes  me  the 
following  : 

"  OAKLAND,  Virginia,  October  25,  1896. 
"My  mother,  whose  sympathies  for  everybody  and 
everything  connected  with  our  cause  were  the  greatest 
and  most  enlarged  of  any  one  I  ever  knew,  thought  it 
might  be  agreeable  and  acceptable  to  General  Lee  to 
have  a  retired  place  in  which  to  rest.  Having  this  little 
house  unoccupied,  she  invited  him  to  accept  it  as  a  home 
as  long  as  he  might  find  it  pleasant  to  himself.  The  Gen 
eral  came  up  with  your  mother  and  sisters  about  the  last 
of  June,  General  Custis  Lee  having  preceded  them  a  day 
or  two  on  Traveller.  At  that  time  our  mode  of  travel 
was  on  the  canal  by  horse-packet :  leaving  Richmond  at 
a  little  before  sunset,  the  boat  reached  Pemberton,  our 
landing,  about  sunrise.  General  Custis  and  I  went 
down  to  meet  them,  and  we  all  reached  home  in  time  for 
breakfast.  That  night  on  the  boat  the  Captain  had  had 
the  most  comfortable  bed  put  up  that  he  could  com 
mand,  which  was  offered  to  your  father.  But  he  pre 
ferred  to  sleep  on  deck,  which  he  did,  with  his  military 
cloak  thrown  over  him.  No  doubt  that  was  the  last 
night  he  ever  spent  under  the  open  sky.  After  a  week 
spent  here,  General  Lee  removed,  with  his  family,  to 
"Derwent."  There  he  spent  several  months  of  quiet 
and  rest,  only  interrupted  by  the  calls  of  those  who 

*Mrs.  Cocke's  second  son,  who  lived  with  his  mother  at  Oakland. 


172       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

came  in  all  honesty  and  sincerity  to  pay  their  respects 
to  him.  Old  soldiers,  citizens,  men  and  women,  all  came 
without  parade  or  ceremony.  During  this  time  he  rode 
on  Traveller  daily,  taking  sometimes  long  trips — once, 
I  recall,  going  to  his  brother's,  Mr.  Carter  Lee's,  about 
twenty  miles,  and  at  another  time  to  Bremo,  about 
thirty  miles.  During  the  month  of  August  he  was 
visited  by  Judge  Brockenborough,  of  Lexington,  who,  as 
Rector  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Washington  College, 
tendered  him,  on  behalf  of  the  Board,  the  presidency 
of  the  college.  After  considering  the  matter  for  several 
weeks,  he  decided  to  accept  this  position. 

".  .  .  During  that  summer  he  was  a  regular  at 
tendant  at  the  various  churches  in  our  neighbourhood, 
whenever  there  was  service.  I  never  heard  your  father 
discuss  public  matters  at  all,  nor  did  he  express  his 
opinion  of  public  men.  On  one  occasion,  I  did  hear  him 
condemn  with  great  severity  the  Secretary  of  War, 
Stanton.  This  was  at  the  time  Mrs.  Surratt  was  con 
demned  and  executed.  At  another  time  I  heard  him 
speak  harshly  of  General  Hunter,  who  had  written  to 
him  to  get  his  approval  of  his  movements,  during  the 
Valley  Campaign,  against  General  Early.  With  these 
exceptions,  I  never  heard  him  speak  of  public  men  or 
measures." 


In  this  connection  I  quote  the  Rev.  J.  Wm.  Jones  in 
his  "Personal  Reminiscences  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee": 


"Not  long  after  the  close  of  the  war,  General  Lee 
received  a  letter  from  General  David  Hunter,  of  the 
Federal  Army,  in  which  he  begged  information  on  two 
points : 

"i.  His  (Hunter's)  campaign  in  the  summer  of  1864 
was  undertaken  on  information  received  at  the  War 
Department  in  Washington  that  General  Lee  was  about 
to  detach  forty  thousand  picked  troops  to  send  General 


A  PRIVATE   CITIZEN  173 

Johnston.     Did  not  his   (Hunter's)  movements  prevent 
this,  and  relieve  Sherman  to  that  extent? 

"2.  When  he  (Hunter)  found  it  necessary  to  retreat 
from  before  Lynchburg,  did  not  he  adopt  the  most 
feasible  line  of  retreat? 

"General  Lee  wrote  a  very  courteous  reply,  in 
which  he  said: 

:<The  information  upon  which  your  campaign  was 
undertaken  was  erroneous.  I  had  no  troops  to  spare 
General  Johnston  and  no  intention  of  sending  him  any— 
certainly  not  forty  thousand,  as  that  would  have  taken 
about  all  I  had. 

"'As  to  the  second  point — I  would  say  that  I  am  not 
advised  as  to  the  motives  which  induced  you  to  adopt 
the  line  of  retreat  which  you  took,  and  am  not,  perhaps, 
competent  to  judge  of  the  question,  but  I  certainly  ex 
pected  you  to  retreat  by  way  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley*, 
and  was  gratified  at  the  time  that  you  preferred  the 
route  through  the  mountains  to  the  Ohio — leaving  the 
valley  open  for  General  Early 's  advance  into  Maryland.' ' 

Before  leaving  Richmond,  my  father  wrote  the  following 
letter  to  Colonel  Ordway,  then  Provost  Marshal : 

"  RICHMOND,  Virginia,  June  21,   1865. 
"Lr.-CoL.  ALBERT  ORDWAY, 

"  Provost  Marshal,  Department  of  Virginia. 
"Colonel:  I  propose  establishing  my  family  next  week 
in  Cumberland  County,  Virginia,  near  Cartersville,  on 
the  James  River  canal.  On  announcing  my  intention 
to  General  Patrick,  when  he  was  on  duty  in  Richmond, 
he  stated  that  no  passport  for  the  purpose  was  necessary. 
Should  there  have  been  any  change  in  the  orders  of  the 
Department  rendering  passports  necessary,  I  request 
that  I  may  be  furnished  with  them.  My  son,  G.  W. 
Custis  Lee,  a  paroled  prisoner  with  myself,  will  accom 
pany  me.  Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

*The  italics  are  Dr.  Jones's. 


174      RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

The  latter  part  of  June,  my  father,  mother,  brother 
Custis,  and  sisters  went  to  "Derwent,"  the  name  of  the 
little  place  which  was  to  be  his  home  for  that  summer. 
They  went  by  canal-boat  from  Richmond  to  Cartersville, 
and  then  had  a  drive  of  about  six  miles.  Mrs.  Cocke 
lived  at  "  Oakland,"  two  miles  away,  and  her  generous 
heart  was  made  glad  by  the  opportunity  of  supplying 
my  father  and  his  family  with  every  comfort  that  it  was 
possible  to  get  at  that  time.  In  his  letters  to  me,  still 
at  the  White  House  busy  with  our  corn,  he  gives  a 
description  of  his  surroundings: 

" .  .  .  We  are  all  well,  and  established  in  a  com 
fortable  but  small  house,  in  a  grove  of  oaks,  belonging 
to  Mr.  Thomas  Cocke.*  It  contains  four  rooms,  and 
there  is  a  house  in  the  yard  which  when  fitted  up  will 
give  us  another.  Only  your  mother,  Agnes,  and  Mildred 
are  with  me.  Custis,  who  has  had  a  return  of  his  at 
tack  .  .  .  is  at  Mrs.  Cocke 's  house,  about  two  miles 
off — is  convalescent,  I  hope.  I  have  been  nowhere  as 
yet.  The  weather  has  been  excessively  hot,  but  this 
morning  there  is  an  agreeable  change,  with  some  rain. 
The  country  here  is  poor  but  healthy,  and  we  are  at  a 
long  distance  from  you  all.  I  can  do  nothing  until  I 
learn  what  decision  in  my  case  is  made  in  Washington. 
All  unite  with  me  in  much  love. 

"Very  truly,   your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  "case"  referred  to  here  was  the  indictment  in 
June  by  a  grand  jury  in  Norfolk,  Virginia,  of  Mr.  Davis, 
General  Lee,  and  others,  for  treason  or  something  like  it. 

The  Hon.  Reverdy  Johnson  offered  his  professional 
services  to  my  father  in  this  case,  but  there  was  no  trial, 
as  a  letter  from  General  Grant  to  the  authorities  in- 

*  Mrs.  Cocke's  eldest  son. 


A  PRIVATE  CITIZEN  175 

sisted  that  the  parole  given  by  him  to  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  should  be 
respected.  The  following  letter  explains  itself: 

"NEAR  CARTERSVILLE,  Virginia,  July  27,  1865. 
"  HON.  REVERDY  JOHNSON, 

"  Baltimore,  Md. 

"  My  Dear  Sir:  I  very  much  regret  that  I  did  not  see 
you  on  your  recent  visit  to  Richmond,  that  I  might  have 
thanked  you  for  the  interest  you  have  shown  in  my 
behalf,  and  your  great  kindness  in  offering  me  your  pro 
fessional  services  in  the  indictment  which  I  now  under 
stand  is  pending  against  me.  I  am  very  glad,  however, 
that  you  had  an  opportunity  of  reading  a  copy  of  General 
Grant's  letter  of  the  2oth  inst.  to  me,  which  I  left  with 
Mr.  Macfarland  for  that  purpose,  and  also  that  he  might 
show  it  to  other  officers  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
in  my  condition.  I  did  not  wish  to  give  it  greater  pub 
licity  without  the  assent  of  General  Grant,  supposing 
that,  if  he  desired  it  made  public,  he  would  take  steps  to 
have  it  done.  Should  he  consent  to  your  request  to 
have  it  published,  I,  of  course,  have  no  objection.  But 
should  he  not,  I  request  that  you  only  use  it  in  the  man 
ner  I  have  above  indicated.  Again  offering  you  my 
warmest  thanks  for  your  sympathy  and  consideration 
for  my  welfare,  I  am,  with  great  respect, 
"Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

In  another  letter  to  me  he  tells  of  his  visit  to  his  brother 
Charles  Carter  Lee,  in  Powhatan  County,  which  was  an 
easy  ride  from  "  Derwent."  He  was  very  fond  of  making 
these  little  excursions,  and  Traveller,  that  summer,  was 
in  constant  use : 

"NEAR  CARTERSVILLE,  July  22,  1865. 
"  My  Dear  Rob:  I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to 
your  Uncle  Carter,  and,  among  my  letters,  find  one  from 


176       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

some  of  your  comrades  to  you,  which  I  inclose.  I  was 
happy  to  discover  from  the  direction  that  it  was  intended 
for  you  and  not  for  me.  I  find  Agnes  quite  sick,  and 
have  sent  for  the  doctor,  as  I  do  not  know  what  to  do  for 
her.  Poor  little  thing !  she  seems  quite  prostrated.  Custis, 
I  am  told,  is  better.  He  is  still  at  Mrs.  Cocke's.  The 
rest  of  us  are  well.  I  saw  several  of  your  comrades, 
Cockes,  Kennons  and  Gilliams,  who  inquired  after  you 
all.  Give  my  love  to  F.  and  Johnny,  in  which  all  here 
unite,  and  believe  me  most  truly  and  affectionately 

"  Your  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"Robert  E.  Lee." 

In  another  letter  he  gives  an  account  of  a  trip  that  he 
and  Traveller  had  taken  across  the  river  into  Albemarle 
County : 

"  NEAR  CARTERSVILLE,  August  21,  1865. 
"  My  Dear  Bertus:  I  received  only  a  few  days  ago  your 
letter  of  the  i2th.  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  of  your 
afflictions,  but  hope  you  have  shaken  off  all  of  them. 
You  must  keep  your  eyes  open,  you  precious  boy,  and 
not  run  against  noxious  vines  and  fevers.  I  have  just 
returned  from  a  visit  to  Fluvanna.  I  rode  up  the  gray 
and  extended  my  peregrinations  into  Albemarle,  but  no 
further  than  the  Green  Mountain  neighbourhood.  I  made 
short  rides,  stopping  every  evening  with  some  friend, 
and  had  a  very  pleasant  time.  I  commended  you  to  all 
the  young  ladies  on  the  road,  but  did  not  know  I  was 
extolling  a  poisoned  beau !  You  must  go  up  and  see 
Miss  Francis  Gait.  Tell  Fitzhugh  I  wrote  to  him  before 
I  went  away.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  your  corn  is  so 
fine,  and  that  you  are  making  preparations  to  put  in  a 
good  crop  of  wheat.  I  wish  I  had  a  little  farm  some 
where,  to  be  at  work  too.  Custis  is  paying  a  visit  to  his 
friend,  Captain  Watkins,  in  Powhatan.  He  came  up 
for  him  last  Saturday,  and  bore  him  off.  He  has  got 
quite  well  now,  and  I  hope  will  continue  so.  Agnes  is 


A  PRIVATE  CITIZEN  177 

also  again  well,  though  still  feeble  and  thin.  Your 
mother,  Life,  and  myself  as  usual.  We  have  not  heard 
for  some  time  from  daughter.  A  report  has  reached  us 
of  her  being  at  Mr.  Burwell's.  Miss  Mary  Cocke  and  her 
brother  John  paid  us  a  short  visit  from  Saturday  to 
Monday,  and  several  of  our  neighbors  have  been  over 
to  spend  the  day.  We  have  a  quiet  time,  which  is  de 
lightful  to  me,  but  I  fear  not  so  exhilarating  to  the  girls. 
I  missed  Uncle  Carter's  visit.  He  and  his  Robert  rode 
up  on  a  pair  of  colts  while  I  was  in  Fluvanna,  and  spent 
several  days.  I  wish  we  were  nearer  you  boys.  I  want 
to  see  you  very  much,  but  do  not  know  when  that  can 
be.  I  hope  Johnny  is  well.  I  have  heard  nothing  from 
his  father  since  we  parted  in  Richmond,  but  hear  that 
Fitz  has  gone  to  see  his  mother.  All  here  send  their  best 
love  to  you,  and  I  pray  that  every  happiness  may  at 
tend  you. 

"Your  devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
" Robert  E.  Lee." 

"Bertus"  was  a  contraction  of  Robertus,  my  father's 
pet  name  for  me  as  a  child.  My  afflictions  were  "  poison- 
oak,"  chills,  and  fever.  The  letter  to  my  brother  Fitz- 
hugh,  here  referred  to,  I  also  give : 

"NEAR  CARTERSVILLE,  Cumberland  County,  Virginia, 

"July  29,  1865. 

"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  was  very  glad  to  receive,  by 
the  last  packet  from  Richmond,  your  letter  of  the  226.. 
We  had  all  been  quite  anxious  to  hear  from  you,  and 
were  much  gratified  to  learn  that  you  were  all  well,  and 
doing  well.  It  is  very  cheering  to  me  to  hear  of  your 
good  prospects  for  corn  and  your  cheerful  prospects  for 
the  future.  God  grant  they  may  be  realised,  which,  I 
am  sure,  they  will  be,  if  you  will  unite  sound  judgment  to 
your  usual  energy  in  your  operations.  As  to  the  indict 
ments,  I  hope  you,  at  least,  may  not  be  prosecuted.  I 


178       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

see  no  other  reason  for  it  than  for  prosecuting  all  who  ever 
engaged  in  the  war.  I  think,  however,  we  may  expect 
procrastination  in  measures  of  relief,  denunciatory 
threats,  etc.  We  must  be  patient,  and  let  them  take 
their  course.  As  soon  as  I  can  ascertain  their  intention 
toward  me,  if  not  prevented,  I  shall  endeavour  to  procure 
some  humble,  but  quiet,  abode  for  your  mother  and 
sisters,  where  I  hope  they  can  be  happy.  As  I  before 
said,  I  want  to  get  in  some  grass  country,  where  the 
natural  product  of  the  land  will  do  much  for  my  sub 
sistence.  .  .  .  Our  neighbours  are  very  kind,  and  do 
everything  in  the  world  to  promote  our  comfort.  If 
Agnes  is  well  enough,  I  propose  to  ride  up  to  'Bremo' 
next  week.  I  wish  I  was  near  enough  to  see  you.  Give 
much  love  to  Rob  and  Johnny,  the  Carters  and  Braxtons. 
All  here  unite  in  love  and  best  wishes  for  you  all. 
"  Most  affectionately,  your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


CHAPTER  X 
PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE 

PATRIOTIC    MOTIVES    FOR    ACCEPTANCE    OF    TRUST — CON 
DITION    OF    COLLEGE THE    GENERAL'S    ARRIVAL    AT 

LEXINGTON — HE  PREPARES  FOR  THE  REMOVAL  OF 
HIS  FAMILY  TO  THAT  CITY — ADVICE  TO  ROBERT, 
JUNIOR — TRIP  TO  "BREMO"  ON  PRIVATE  CANAL- 
BOAT MRS.  LEE'S  INVALIDISM 

ABOUT  this  time  my  father  received  from  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  Washington  College  a  notification  of  his 
election  to  the  presidency  of  that  institution,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  board  held  in  Lexington,  Virginia,  on  August  4, 
1865.  The  letter  apprising  him  of  the  action  was  pre 
sented  by  Judge  John  W.  Brockenbrough,  rector  of  the 
college.  This  was  a  complete  surprise  to  my  father.  He 
had  already  been  offered  the  vice-chancellorship  of  the 
" University  of  the  South,"  at  Sewanee,  Tennessee,  but 
declined  it  on  the  ground  that  it  was  denominational,  and 
to  some  suggestions  that  he  should  connect  himself  with 
the  University  of  Virginia  he  objected  because  it  was  a 
State  institution. 

Washington  College  had  started  as  an  academy  in 
1749.  It  was  the  first  classical  school  opened  in  the 
Valley  of  Virginia.  After  a  struggle  of  many  years,  under 
a  succession  of  principals  and  with  several  changes  of  site,  it 
at  length  acquired  such  a  reputation  as  to  attract  the 
attention  of  General  Washington.  He  gave  it  a  hand- 

179 


i8o       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

some  endowment,  and  the  institution  changed  its  name 
from  "Liberty  Hall  Academy"  to  Washington  College. 
In  the  summer  of  1865,  the  college,  through  the  calamities 
of  civil  war,  had  reached  the  lowest  point  of  depression 
it  had  ever  known.  Its  buildings,  library,  and  apparatus 
had  suffered  from  the  sack  and  plunder  of  hostile  soldiery. 
Its  invested  funds,  owing  to  the  general  impoverishment 
throughout  the  land,  were  for  the  time  being  rendered 
unproductive  and  their  ultimate  value  was  most  uncertain. 
Four  professors  still  remained  on  duty,  and  there  were 
about  forty  students,  mainly  from  the  country  around 
Lexington.  It  was  not  a  State  institution,  nor  confined 
to  any  one  religious  denomination,  so  two  objections 
which  might  have  been  made  by  my  father  were 
removed.  But  the  college  in  later  years  had  only  a  local 
reputation.  It  was  very  poor,  indifferently  equipped 
with  buildings,  and  with  no  means  in  sight  to  improve 
its  condition. 

"  There  was  a  general  expectation  that  he  would 
decline  the  position  as  not  sufficiently  lucrative,  if  his 
purpose  was  to  repair  the  ruins  of  his  private  fortune 
resulting  from  the  war;  as  not  lifting  him  conspicuously 
enough  in  the  public  gaze,  if  he  was  ambitious  of  office  or 
further  distinction ;  or  as  involving  too  great  labour  and 
anxiety,  if  he  coveted  repose  after  the  terrible  contest 
from  which  he  had  just  emerged."  * 

He  was  very  reluctant  to  accept  this  appointment,  but 
for  none  of  the  above  reasons,  as  the  average  man  might 
have  been.  Why  he  was  doubtful  of  undertaking  the 
responsibilities  of  such  a  position  his  letter  of  acceptance 
clearly  shows.  He  considered  the  matter  carefully  and 
then  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  committee : 

*  Professor  E.  S.  Joynes. 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE  181 

"POWHATAN  COUNTY,  August  24,  1865. 
"Gentlemen:     I  have  delayed  for  some  days  replying 
to    your    letter  of    the  5th  inst.,   informing  me  of  my 
election  by  the  board  of  trustees  to  the  presidency  of 
Washington  College,  from  a  desire  to  give  the  subject  due 
consideration.     Fully  impressed  with  the  responsibilities 
of  the  office,  I  have  feared  that  I  should  be  unable  to 
discharge  its  duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  trustees  or 
to  the  benefit  of  the  country.     The  proper  education  of 
youth  requires  not  only  great  ability,  but  I  fear  more 
strength  than  I  now  possess,  for  I  do  not  feel  able  to 
undergo    the    labour    of    conducting    classes    in    regular 
courses  of  instruction.     I  could  not,  therefore,  undertake 
more  than  the  general  administration  and  supervision  of 
the    institution.     There   is    another   subject    which   has 
caused  me  serious  reflection,  and  is,  I  think,  worthy  of 
the  consideration  of  the  board.     Being  excluded  from 
the  terms  of  amnesty  in  the  proclamation  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  of  the  2Qth  of  May  last,  and  an 
object  of  censure  to  a  portion  of  the  country,   I  have 
thought  it  probable  that  my  occupation  of  the  position  of 
president  might  draw  upon  the  college  a  feeling  of  hos 
tility  ;  and  I  should,  therefore,  cause  injury  to  an  institu 
tion  which  it  would  be  my  highest  desire  to  advance.     I 
think  it  the  duty  of  every  citizen,  in  the  present  condition 
of  the  country,  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  aid  in  the  restora 
tion  of  peace  and  harmony,  and  in  no  way  to  oppose  the 
policy  of  the  State   or  general   government  directed  to 
that    object.     It    is    particularly    incumbent    on    those 
charged  with  the  instruction  of  the  young  to  set  them 
an  example  of  submission  to  authority,  and  I  could  not 
consent   to   be   the   cause   of   animadversion   upon   the 
college.     Should  you,  however,  take  a  different  view,  and 
think  that  my  services  in  the  position  tendered  to  me  by 
the  board  will  be  advantageous  to  the  college  and  country, 
I  will  yield  to  your  judgment  and  accept  it ;  otherwise,  I 
must  most  respectfully  decline  the  office.     Begging  you 
to  express  to  the  trustees  of  the  college  my  heartfelt 


1 82       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

gratitude  for  the  honour  conferred  upon  me,  and  request 
ing  you  to  accept  my  cordial  thanks  for  the  kind  manner 
in  which  you  have  communicated  their  decision,  I  am, 
gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient 
servant,  R.  E.  LEE." 

To  present  a  clearer  view  of  some  of  the  motives  in 
fluencing  my  father  in  accepting  this  trust — for  such  he 
considered  it — I  give  an  extract  from  an  address  on  the 
occasion  of  his  death,  by  Bishop  Wilmer,  of  Louisiana, 
delivered  at  the  University  of  the  South,  at  Sewanee, 
Tennessee : 

"I  was  seated,"  says  Bishop  Wilmer,  "at  the  close  of 
the  day,  in  my  Virginia  home,  when  I  beheld,  through 
the  thickening  shades  of  evening,  a  horseman  entering 
the  yard,  whom  I  soon  recognised  as  General  Lee.  The 
next  morning  he  placed  in  my  hands  the  correspondence 
with  the  authorities  of  Washington  College  at  Lexington. 
He  had  been  invited  to  become  president  of  that  institu 
tion.  I  confess  to  a  momentary  feeling  of  chagrin  at 
the  proposed  change  (shall  I  say  revulsion?)  in  his 
history.  The  institution  was  one  of  local  interest,  and 
comparatively  unknown  to  our  people.  I  named  others 
more  conspicuous  which  would  welcome  him  with  ardour 
as  their  presiding  head.  I  soon  discovered  that  his  mind 
towered  above  these  earthly  distinctions;  that,  in  his 
judgment,  the  cause  g-ave  dignity  to  the  institution,  and 
not  the  wealth  of  its  endowment  or  the  renown  of  its 
scholars;  that  this  door  and  not  another  was  opened  to 
him  by  Providence,  and  he  only  wished  to  be  assured  of 
his  competency  to  fulfil  his  trust  and  thus  to  make  his 
few  remaining  years  a  comfort  and  blessing  to  his  suffering 
country.  I  had  spoken  to  his  human  feelings;  he  had 
now  revealed  himself  to  me  as  one  'whose  life  was  hid 
with  Christ  in  God.'  My  speech  was  no  longer  restrained. 
I  congratulated  him  that  his  heart  was  inclined  to  this 
great  cause,  and  that  he  was  spared  to  give  to  the  world 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE    183 

this  august  testimony  to  the  importance  of  Christian 
education.  How  he  listened  to  my  feeble  words ;  how  he 
beckoned  me  to  his  side,  as  the  fulness  of  heart  found 
utterance;  how  his  whole  countenance  glowed  with 
animation  as  I  spoke  of  the  Holy  Ghost  as  the  great 
Teacher,  whose  presence  was  required  to  make  education 
a  blessing,  which  otherwise  might  be  the  curse  of  mankind ; 
how  feelingly  he  responded,  how  eloquently,  as  I  never 
heard  him  speak  before — can  never  be  effaced  from 
memory;  and  nothing  more  sacred  mingles  with  my 
reminiscences  of  the  dead." 

The  board  of  trustees,  on  August  3ist,  adopted  and 
sent  to  General  Lee  resolutions  saying  that,  in  spite  of 
his  objections,  uhis  connection  with  the  institution 
would  greatly  promote  its  prosperity  and  advance  the 
general  interest  of  education,  and  urged  him  to  enter 
upon  his  duties  as  president  at  his  earliest  con 
venience." 

My  father  had  had  nearly  four  years'  experience  in 
the  charge  of  young  men  at  West  Point.  The  conditions 
at  that  place,  to  be  sure,  were  very  different  from  those 
at  the  one  to  which  he  was  now  going,  but  the  work 
in  the  main  was  the  same — to  train,  improve  and  elevate. 
I  think  he  was  influenced,  in  making  up  his  mind  to 
accept  this  position,  by  the  great  need  of  education  in 
his  State  and  in  the  South,  and  by  the  opportunity  that 
he  saw  at  Washington  College  for  starting  almost  from  the 
beginning,  and  for  helping,  by  his  experience  and  example, 
the  youth  of  his  country  to  become  good  and  useful 
citizens, 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  he  mounted  Traveller 
and  started  alone  for  Lexington.  He  was  four  days  on 
the  journey,  stopping  with  some  friend  each  night.  He 
rode  into  Lexington  on  the  afternoon  of  the  fourth  day, 


184       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

no  one  knowing  of  his  coming  until  he  quietly  drew  up 
and  dismounted  at  the  village  inn.  Professor  White,  who 
had  just  turned  into  the  main  street  as  the  General 
halted  in  front  of  the  hotel,  said  he  knew  in  a  moment 
that  this  stately  rider  on  the  iron-gray  charger  must  be 
General  Lee.  He,  therefore,  at  once  went  forward,  as 
two  or  three  old  soldiers  gathered  around  to  help  the 
General  down,  and  insisted  on  taking  him  to  the  home  of 
Colonel  Reid,  the  professor's  father-in-law,  where  he  had 
already  been  invited  to  stay.  My  father,  with  his  usual 
consideration  for  others,  as  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon, 
had  determined  to  remain  at  the  hotel  that  night  and  go 
to  Mr.  Reid's  in  the  morning;  but  yielding  to  Captain 
White's  (he  always  called  him  "  Captain,"  his  Confederate 
title)  assurances  that  all  was  ready  for  him,  he  accom 
panied  him  to  the  home  of  his  kind  host. 

The  next  morning,  before  breakfast,  he  wrote  the  fol 
lowing  letter  to  my  mother  announcing  his  safe  arrival. 
The  "Captain  Edmund"  and  "Mr.  Preston"  mentioned 
in  it  were  the  sons  of  our  revered  friend  and  benefactress, 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Cocke.  Colonel  Preston  and  Captain  Frank 
were  her  brother  and  nephew : 

"LEXINGTON,  September  19,  1865. 
"My  Dear  Mary:  I  reached  here  yesterday  about 
one  P.M.,  and  on  riding  up  to  the  hotel  was  met  by 
Professor  White,  of  Washington  College,  who  brought  me 
up  to  his  father-in-law's,  Colonel  Reid,  the  oldest  mem 
ber  of  the  trustees  of  the  college,  where  I  am  very  com 
fortably  quartered.  To-day  I  will  look  out  for  accom 
modations  elsewrhere,  as  the  Colonel  has  a  large  family 
and  I  fear  I  am  intruding  upon  his  hospitality.  I  have 
not  yet  visited  the  college  grounds.  They  seem  to  be 
beautifully  located,  and  the  buildings  are  undergoing 
repairs.  The  house  assigned  to  the  president,  I  am  told, 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE    185 

has  been  rented  to  Dr.  Madison  (I  believe),  who  has  not 
been  able  to  procure  another  residence,  and  I  do  not 
know  when  it  will  be  vacated,  nor  can  I  tell  you  more 
about  it.  I  saw  Mrs.  Cocke  yesterday  afternoon,  who  looks 
remarkably  well,  and  will  return  to  the  Alum  [Springs] 
to-morrow.  Captain  Edmund  is  with  her  and  goes 
to-day  to  Kentucky.  He  and  Mr.  Preston  are  very  well. 
The  latter  will  accompany  his  mother  to  the  Alum.  I 
have  not  yet  seen  him.  I  saw  Mrs.  and  Colonel  Preston, 
Captain  Frank,  and  his  sister.  All  the  family  are  well. 
I  shall  go  after  breakfast  to  inquire  after  my  trunks.  I 
had  a  very  pleasant  journey  here.  The  first  two  days  were 
very  hot,  but,  reaching  the  mountain  region  the  third 
day,  the  temperature  was  much  cooler.  I  came  up  in 
four  days'  easy  rides,  getting  to  my  stopping-place  by 
one  P.M.  each  day,  except  the  third,  when  I  slept  on  top 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,  which  I  reached  at  three  P.M.  The 
scenery  was  beautiful  all  the  way.  I  am  writing  before 
breakfast,  and  must  be  short.  Last  night  I  found  a 
blanket  and  coverlid  rather  light  covering,  and  this 
morning  I  see  a  fire  in  the  dining-room.  I  have  thought 
much  of  you  all  since  I  left.  Give  much  love  to  the 
girls  and  Custis  and  remember  me  to  all  at  'Oakland.' 
"  Most  affectionately  yours,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 

When  he  first  arrived,  the  family,  very  naturally,  stood 
a  little  in  awe  of  him.  This  feeling,  however,  was  soon 
dispelled,  for  his  simple  and  unaffected  manners  in  a 
short  while  put  them  at  ease.  There  were  some  little 
children  in  the  house,  and  they  and  the  General  at  once 
became  great  friends.  With  these  kind  and  hospitable 
friends  he  stayed  several  days.  After  being  present  at  a 
meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees,  he  rode  Traveller  over 
to  the  Rockbridge  Baths — eleven  miles  from  Lexington— 
and  from  there  writes  to  my  mother,  on  September 
25th: 


1 86       RECOLLECTIONS  OP  GENERAL  LEE 

" .  .  .  Am  very  glad  to  hear  of  Rob's  arrival.  I 
am  sorry  that  I  missed  seeing  the  latter,  but  find  it  was 
necessary  that  I  should  have  been  present  at  the  meeting 
of  the  board  of  trustees  on  the  2oth.  They  adjourned 
on  the  eve  of  the  2ist,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  226.  I 
p>de  over  here,  where  I  found  Annie  and  Miss  Belle.* 

.  .  The  babies f  are  well  and  sweet.  I  have  taken 
the  baths  every  day  since  my  arrival,  and  like  them  very 
much.  In  fact,  they  are  delightful,  and  I  wish  you  were 
all  here  to  enjoy  them.  .  .  .  Annie  and  Belle  go  in 
two,  and  sometimes  three,  times  a  day.  Yesterday  I 
procured  some  horses  and  took  them  up  to  the  top  of 
Jump  Mountain,  where  we  had  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
views  I  ever  saw.  To-day  I  could  get  but  one  horse, 
and  Miss  Belle  and  I  rode  up  Hays  Creek  Valley,  which 
possessed  beauties  of  a  different  kind.  I  shall  return  to 
Lexington  on  the  29th.  I  perceive,  as  yet,  no  change  in 
my  rheumatic  affection.  .  .  .  Tell  Custis  I  am  much 
obliged  to  him  for  his  attention  to  my  baggage.  All 
the  articles  enumerated  by  him  arrived  safely  at  Colonel 
Reid's  Thursday  morning  early.  I  also  received  the 
package  of  letters  he  sent.  ...  I  hope  he  may 
receive  the  appointment  at  the  V.  M.  I.  Everyone 
interested  has  expressed  a  desire  he  should  do  so,  and  I 
am  more  desirous  than  all  of  them.  If  he  comes  by  land, 
he  will  find  the  route  I  took  very  pleasant,  and  about  108 
miles,  namely:  'Bremo' — Dr.  Wilmer's — Waynesboro' 
—Greenville.  He  will  find  me  at  the  Lexington  Hotel. 
.  .  .  I  wish  you  were  all  with  me.  I  feel  very  solitary 
and  miss  you  all  dreadfully.  Give  much  love  to  the 
girls  and  boys — kind  remembrances  to  Mrs.  P.,  Miss 
Louisa,  and  Mrs.  Thos.  Cocke.  I  have  no  news.  Most 
affectionately,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"  P.  S. — Annie  and  Belle  send  a  great  deal  of  love  to 
all.  R.  E.  L." 

*  Mrs.  Chapman  Leigh  and  Miss  Belle  Harrison,  of  Brandon,  both 
very  dear  friends  and  cousins  of  my  father. 
t  Mrs.  Leigh's. 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE    187 

These  little  excursions  and  the  meeting  with  old  friends 
and  dear  cousins  were  sources  of  real  enjoyment  and 
grateful  rest.  The  pains  of  the  past,  the  worries  of  the 
present,  and  the  cares  for  the  future  were,  for  the  time 
being,  banished.  My  father  earnestly  desired  a  quiet, 
informal  inauguration,  and  his  wish  was  gratified.  On 
October  2,  1865,  in  the  presence  of  the  trustees,  professors 
and  students,  after  solemn  and  appropriate  prayer  by  the 
Rev.  W.  S.  White,  D.D.,  the  oldest  Christian  minister 
in  the  town,*  he  took  the  oath  of  office  as  required  by  the 
laws  of  the  college,  and  was  thus  legally  inaugurated  as 
its  president. 

On  October  3d  he  wrote  my  mother : 

" .  .  .  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  Rob  is  improving, 
and  hope  you  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Dana.f 
.  .  .  The  college  opened  yesterday,  and  a  fine  set  of 
youths,  about  fifty,  made  their  appearance  in  a  body. 
It  is  supposed  that  many  more  will  be  coming  during 
the  month.  The  scarcity  of  money  everywhere  embar 
rasses  all  proceedings.  General  Smith  informs  me  that 
the  Military  Institute  will  commence  its  exercises  on  the 
1 6th  inst. ;  and  that  Custis  was  unanimously  elected  to 
the  chair  of  Civil  Engineering.!  I  am  living  at  the 
Lexington  Hotel,  and  he  must  come  there  if  he  comes  up. 
.  The  ladies  have  furnished  me  a  very  nice  room 
in  the  college  for  my  office;  new  carpet  from  Baltimore, 
curtains,  etc.  They  are  always  doing  something  kind. 

*The  father  of  Professor  (or  "  Captain  ")  White. 

t  Our  old  pastor  of  Christ's  Church,  Alexandria,  the  trusted  friend 
of  my  grandmother  and  mother,  who  had  baptised  all  the  children 
at  Arlington. 

J  The  Virginia  Military  Institute,  a  State  institution,  modelled  after 
the  U.  S.  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  was  located  in  Lexington, 
and  its  grounds  adjoined  those  of  Washington  College.  Since  its 
foundation  in  1839,  up  to  this  time,  General  F.  H.  Smith  had  been  its 
superintendent. 


i88       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

.  .  .  I  came  up  September  3oth  from  the  Baths. 
Annie  and  Miss  Belle  still  there  and  very  well.  They 
expect  to  be  here  on  the  loth.  .  .  .  You  tell  me 
nothing  of  the  girls.  I  hope  Agnes  is  getting  strong  and 
fat.  I  wished  for  them  both  at  the  Baths.  Annie  and 
Belle  were  my  only  companions.  I  could  not  trespass 
upon  them  always.  The  scenery  is  beautiful  here,  but 
I  fear  it  will  be  locked  up  in  winter  by  the  time  you 
come.  Nothing  could  be  more  beautiful  than  the 
mountains  now. 

"Most  affectionately,  R.  E.  LEE." 

In  addition  to  his  duties  as  college  president,  my 
father  had  to  make  all  the  arrangements  for  his  new 
home.  The  house  assigned  him  by  the  college  was 
occupied  by  Dr.  Madison,  who  was  to  move  out  as  soon 
as  he  could.  Carpenters,  painters  and  glaziers  had  to  be 
put  to  work  to  get  it  into  condition;  furniture,  carpets, 
bedding  to  be  provided,  a  cook  procured,  servants  and 
provisions  supplied. 

My  mother  was  an  invalid  and  absent,  and  as  my 
sisters  were  with  her,  everything  down  to  the  minutest 
detail  was  done  by  my  father's  directions  and  under  his 
superintendence.  He  had  always  been  noted  for  his 
care  and  attention  to  little  things,  and  that  trait,  apparent 
in  him  when  a  mere  lad,  practised  all  through  his  busy 
and  eventful  life,  stood  him  in  good  stead  now.  The 
difficulties  to  be  overcome  were  made  greater  by  the 
scarcity  and  inaccessibility  of  supplies  and  workmen  and 
the  smallness  of  his  means.  In  addition,  he  conducted 
a  large  correspondence,  always  answering  every  letter. 
To  every  member  of  his  family  he  wrote  continually, 
and  was  interested  in  all  our  pursuits,  advising  and 
helping  us  as  no  one  else  could  have  done.  Some  of  his 
letters  to  my  mother  at  this  time  show  how  he  looked  into 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE    189 

every  matter,  great  or  small,  which  related  to  her  comfort 
and  welfare,  and  to  the  preparation  of  her  new  home. 
For  example,  on  October  Qth  he  writes : 

" .  .  .  Life  is  indeed  gliding  away  and  I  have 
nothing  of  good  to  show  for  mine  that  is  past.  I  pray  I 
may  be  spared  to  accomplish  something  for  the  benefit 
of  mankind  and  the  honour  of  God.  ...  I  hope  I 
may  be  able  to  get  the  house  prepared  for  you  in  time 
to  reach  here  before  the  cold  weather.  Dr.  Madison  has 
sent  me1  word  that  he  will  vacate  the  house  on  the  i6th 
inst.,  this  day  week.  I  will  commence  to  make  some 
outside  repairs  this  week,  so  as  to  get  at  the  inside  next, 
and  hope  by  the  ist  of  November  it  will  be  ready  for  you. 
There  is  no  furniture  belonging  to  the  house,  but  we 
shall  require  but  little  to  commence  with.  Mr.  Green,  of 
Alexandria,  to  whom  I  had  written,  says  that  his  manu 
facturing  machinery,  etc.,  has  been  so  much  injured  that, 
although  it  has  been  returned  to  him,  he  cannot  resume 
operations  until  next  year,  but  that  he  will  purchase 
for  us  anything  we  desire.  I  believe  nothing  is  manu 
factured  in  Richmond — everything  comes  from  the  North, 
and  we  might  as  well  write  to  Baltimore  at  once  for  what 
we  want.  What  do  you  think?  I  believe  nothing  of 
consequence  is  manufactured  here.  I  will  see  this  week 
what  can  be  done.  .  .  ." 

And  again,  a  few  days  later,  he  writes : 

" .  .  .  I  hope  you  are  all  well,  and  as  comfortable 
as  can  be.  I  am  very  anxious  to  get  you  all  here,  but 
have  made  little  progress  in  accomplishing  it  so  far. 
Dr.  M.  expects  to  vacate  the  house  this  week,  but  I  fear 
it  is  not  certain  he  can  do  so.  .  .  .  I  engaged  some 
carpenters  last  week  to  repair  the  roof,  fences,  stable, 
etc.,  but  for  want  of  material  they  could  not  make  a 
commencement.  There  is  no  lumber  here  at  hand. 
Everything  has  to  be  prepared.  I  have  not  been  in  the 


1 90       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

house  yet,  but  I  hear  there  is  much  to  be  done.  We  shall 
have  to  be  patient.  As  soon  as  it  is  vacated,  I  will  set 
to  work.  I  think  it  will  be  more  expeditious  and 
cheaper  to  write  to  Renwick  [of  Baltimore]  to  send  what 
articles  of  furniture  will  be  required,  and  also  to  order 
some  carpets  from  Baltimore.  .  .  ." 

In  a  postscript,  dated  the  iyth,  he  says: 

"The  carpenters  made  a  beginning  on  the  house 
yesterday.  I  hope  it  may  be  vacated  this  week.*  I  will 
prepare  your  room  first.  The  rest  of  us  can  bivouac. 
Love  to  all.  Most  affectionately,  R.  E.  LEE." 

On  October  ipth: 

".  .  .  I  have  been  over  the  house  we  are  to  occupy. 
It  is  in  wretched  condition.  Mrs.  M.  has  not  yet  vacated 
it,  but  I  have  some  men  at  work,  though  this  storm  has 
interrupted  their  operations  and  I  fear  little  will  be  done 
this  week.  I  think  I  can  make  your  room  comfortable. 
The  upstairs,  is  very  convenient  and  the  rest  of  the  house 
sufficiently  so.  I  think  you  had  better  write  at  once 
to  Brit  *  to  send  the  curtains  you  speak  of,  and  the 
carpets.  It  is  better  to  use  what  we  have  than  to  buy 
others.  Their  use  where  originally  intended  f  is  very 
uncertain.  They  have  been  tossed  about  for  four  years, 
and  may  be  lost  or  ruined.  They  can  come  by  express  to 
Lynchburg,  and  then  up  the  canal,  or  by  Richmond. 
The  merchants  say  the  former  is  the  best  way — much 
more  expeditious  and  but  little  more  expensive." 

Spending  the  summer  on  the  Pamunkey  at  the  White 
House,  exposed  all  day  in  the  fields  to  the  sun,  and  at 

*  The  "  Brit  "  mentioned  here  is  Mrs.  Britannia  Kennon,  of  "Tudor 
Place,"  my  mother's  first  cousin.  She  had  saved  for  us  a  great  many 
of  tne  household  goods  from  Arlington,  having  gotten  permission 
from  the  Federal  authorities  to  do  so,  at  the  time  it  was  occupied  by 
their  forces. 

f  Arlington,  to  that  beloved  home  my  mother  still  hoped  to  return. 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE      191 

night  to  the  malaria  from  the  river  and  marshes,  I  became 
by  the  last  of  September  one  continuous  "chill,"  so  it 
was  decided  that,  as  the  corn  was  made,  the  fodder  saved, 
the  wheat  land  broken  up,  and  hands  not  so  greatly 
needed,  I  should  get  a  furlough.  Mounting  my  mare, 
I  started  on  a  visit  to  my  mother  and  sisters,  hoping  that 
the  change  to  the  upper  country  would  help  me  to  get  rid 
of  the  malaria.  When  I  reached  "Derwent"  my  father 
had  gone  to  Lexington,  but  my  mother  and  the  rest 
were  there  to  welcome  me  and  dose  me  for  my  ailments. 
There  was  still  some  discussion  among  us  all  as  to  what 
was  the  best  thing  for  me  to  do,  and  I  wrote  to  my  father, 
telling  him  of  my  preference  for  a  farmer's  life  and  my 
desire  to  work  my  own  land.  The  following  letter, 
which  he  wrote  me  in  reply,  is,  like  all  I  ever  got  from 
him,  full  of  love,  tenderness,  and  good,  sensible  advice: 

"My  Dear  Son:  I  did  not  receive  until  yesterday  your 

letter  of  the  8th  inst.     I  regret  very  much  having  missed 

seeing  you— still  more  to  hear  that  you  have  been  suffering 

from  intermittent  fever.     I  think  the  best  thing  you  can 

do  is  to  eradicate  the  disease  from  your  system,   and 

unless  there  is  some  necessity  for  your  returning  to  the 

White  House,  you  had  better  accompany  your  mother 

here.     I  have  thought  very  earnestly  as  to  your  future. 

I  do  not  know  to  what  stage  your  education  has  been 

carried,  or  whether  it  would  be  advantageous  for  you  to 

pursue  it  further.     Of  that  you  can  judge.     If  you  do, 

and  will  apply  yourself  so  as  to  get  the  worth  of  your 

money,  I  can  advance  it  to  you  for  this  year  at  least.     If 

you  do  not,  and  wish  to  take  possession  of  your  farm,  I 

can  assist  you  a  little  in  that.     As  matters  now  stand, 

you  could  raise  money  on  your  farm  only  by  mortgaging 

it,  which  would  put  you  in  debt  at  the  beginning  of  your 

life,  and  I  fear  in  the  end  would  swallow  up  all  your 

property.     As  soon  as  I  am  restored  to  civil  rights,  if  I 


192       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

ever  am,  I  will  settle  up  your  grandfather's  estate,  and 
put  you  in  possession  of  your  share.  The  land  may  be 
responsible  for  some  portion  of  his  debts  or  legacies.  If 
so,  you  will  have  to  assume  it.  In  the  meantime,  I 
think  it  would  be  better  for  you,  if  you  determine  to 
farm  your  land,  to  go  down  there  as  you  propose  and 
begin  on  a  moderate  scale.  I  can  furnish  you  means  to 
buy  a  team,  wagon,  implements,  etc.  What  will  it  cost  ? 
If  you  cannot  wait  to  accompany  your  mother  here,  come 
up  to  see  me  and  we  can  talk  it  over.  You  could  come 
up  in  the  packet  and  return  again.  If  you  do  come, 
ask  Agnes  for  my  box  of  private  papers  I  left  with  her,' 
and  bring  it  with  you ;  but  do  not  lose  it  for  your  life,  or 
we  are  all  ruined.  Wrap  it  up  with  your  clothes  and 
put  it  in  a  carpet-bag  or  valise,  so  that  you  can  keep  it 
with  you  or  within  your  sight,  and  do  not  call  attention 
to  it.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  Fitzhugh  keeps  so  well,  and 
that  he  is  prospering  in  his  farming  operations.  Give 
him  a  great  deal  of  love  for  me.  The  first  thing  you  must 
do  is  to  get  well. 

"Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

His  letters  to  his  daughters  tell,  in  a  playful  way, 
much  of  his  life,  and  are  full  of  the  quiet  humour  in 
which  he  so  often  indulged.  We  were  still  at  "  Derwent," 
awaiting  the  time  when  the  house  in  Lexington  should 
be  ready.  It  had  been  decided  that  I  should  remain 
and  accompany  my  mother  and  sisters  to  Lexington, 
and  that  some  of  us,  or  all,  should  go  up  the  river  to 
"Bremo,"  the  beautiful  seat  of  Dr.  Charles  Cocke,  and 
pay  a  visit  there  before  proceeding  to  Lexington.  Here 
is  a  letter  from  my  father  to  his  daughter  Mildred: 

"LEXINGTON,  October  29,   1865. 

"My  Precious  Life:  Your  nice  letter  gave  me  much 
pleasure  and  made  me  the  more  anxious  to  see  you.  I 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE    193 

think  you  girls,  after  your  mother  is  comfortable  at 
'Bremo,'  will  have  to  come  up  and  arrange  the  house 
for  her  reception.  You  know  I  am  a  poor  hand  and  can 
do  nothing  without  your  advice.  Your  brother,  too, 
is  wild  for  the  want  of  admonition.  Col.  Blair  is  now 
his  'fidus  Achates,'  and  as  he  is  almost  as  gray  as  your 
papa,  and  wears  the  same  uniform,  all  gray,  he  is  some 
times  taken  for  him  by  the  young  girls,  who  consider 
your  brother  the  most  attentive  of  sons,  and  giving  good 
promise  of  making  a  desirable  husband.  He  will  find 
himself  married  some  of  these  days  before  he  knows  it. 
You  had  better  be  near  him.  I  hope  you  give  attention 
to  Robert.  Miss  Sallie  will  thaw  some  of  "the  ice  from  his 
heart.  Tell  her  she  must  come  up  here,  as  I  want  to  see 
her  badly.  I  do  not  know  what  you  will  do  with  your 
chickens,  unless  you  take  them  to  'Bremo,'  and  thus 
bring  them  here.  I  suppose  Robert  would  not  eat  'Laura 
Chilton'  and  'Don  Ella  McKay.'  Still  less  would  he 
devour  his  sister  'Mildred.'*  I  have  scarcely  gotten 
acquainted  with  the  young  ladies.  They  look  very  nice 
in  the  walks,  but  I  rarely  get  near  them.  Traveller  is 
my  only  companion;  I  may  also  say  my  pleasure.  He 
and  I,  whenever  practicable,  wander  out  in  the  moun 
tains  and  enjoy  sweet  confidence.  The  boys  are  pluck 
ing  out  his  tail,  and  he  is  presenting  the  appearance  of 
a  plucked  chicken.  Two  of  the  belles  of  the  neighbourhood 
have  recently  been  married — Miss  Mattie  Jordan  to  Dr. 
Cameron,  and  Miss  Rose  Cameron  to  Dr.  Sherod.  The 
former  couple  go  to  Louisburg,  West  Virginia,  and  start 
to-morrow  on  horseback,  the  bride's  trousseau  in  a  bag 
gage  wagon ;  the  latter  to  Winchester.  Miss  Sherod,  one 
of  the  bridesmaids,  said  she  knew  you  there.  I  did  not 
attend  the  weddings,  but  have  seen  the  pairs  of  doves. 
Both  of  the  brides  are  remarkable  in  this  county  of 
equestrianism  for  their  good  riding  and  beauty.  With 
true  affection,  Your  fond  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

*  These  were  the  names  of  some  of  my  sister's  pet  chickens. 


i94       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

To  his  daughter  Agnes,  about  the  same  time,  he 
writes : 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  October  26,  1865. 
"  My  Dear  Agnes:  I  will  begin  the  correspondence  of 
the  day  by  thanking  you  for  your  letter  of  the  gih.  It 
will,  I  am  sure,  be  to  me  intellectually  what  my  morning's 
feast  is  corporeally.  It  will  strengthen  me  for  the  day, 
and  smoothe  the  rough  points  which  constantly  protrude 
in  my  epistles.  I  am  glad  Robert  is  with  you.  It  will 
be  a  great  comfort  to  him,  and  I  hope,  in  addition,  will 
dissipate  his  chills.  He  can  also  accompany  you  in  your 
walks  and  rides  and  be  that  silent  sympathy  (for  he  is 
a  man  of  few  words)  which  is  so  soothing.  Though 
marble  to  women,  he  is  so  only  externally,  and  you  will 
find  him  warm  and  cheering.  Tell  him  I  want  him  to  go 
to  see  Miss  Francis  Gait  (I  think  her  smile  will  awake 
some  sweet  music  in  him) ,  and  be  careful  to  take  precau 
tions  against  the  return  of  the  chills,  on  the  yth,  i4th 
and  2ist  days.  .  '  .  .  I  want  very  much 'to  have  you 
all  with  me  again,  and  miss  you  dreadfully.  I  hope 
another  month  will  accomplish  it.  In  the  meantime, 
you  must  get  very  well.  This  is  a  beautiful  spot  by 
nature — man  has  done  but  little  for  it.  Love  to  all. 
Most  affectionately, 

"Your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

About  the  first  week  of  November  we  all  went  by 
canal -boat  to  "Bremo,"  some  twenty-five  miles  up  the 
James  River,  where  we  remained  the  guests  of  Doctor 
and  Mrs.  Charles  Cocke  until  we  went  to  Lexington.  My 
sister  Agnes,  while  there,  was  invited  to  Richmond  to 
assist  at  the  wedding  of  a  very  dear  friend,  Miss  Sally 
Warwick.  She  wrote  to  my  father  asking  his  advice 
and  approval,  and  received  this  reply,  so  characteristic 
of  his  playful,  humorous  mood: 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE    195 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  November  16,  1865. 

"  My  Precious  Little  Agnes:  I  have  just  received  your 
letter  of  the  i3th  and  hasten  to  reply.  It  is  very  hard 
for  you  to  apply  to  me  to  advise  you  to  go  away  from  me. 
You  know  how  much  I  want  to  see  you,  and  how  im 
portant  you  are  to  me.  But  in  order  to  help  you  to  make 
up  your  mind,  if  it  will  promote  your  pleasure  and  Sally's 
happiness,  I  will  say  go.  You  may  inform  Sally  from 
me,  however,  that  no  preparations  are  necessary,  and  if 
they  were  no  one  could  help  her.  She  has  just  got  to 
wade  through  it  as  if  it  was  an  attack  of  measles  or  any 
thing  else — naturally.  As  she  would  not  marry  Custis, 
she  may  marry  whom  she  chooses.  I  shall  wish  her 
every  happiness,  just  the  same,  for  she  knows  nobody 
loves  her  as  much  as  I  do.  I  do  not  think,  upon  reflec 
tion,  she  will  consider  it  right  to  refuse  my  son  and  take 
away  my  daughter.  She  need  not  tell  me  whom  she  is 
going  to  marry.  I  suppose  it  is  some  cross  old  widower, 
with  a  dozen  children.  She  will  not  be  satisfied  at  her 
sacrifice  with  less,  and  I  should  think  that  would  be 
cross  sufficient.  I  hope  'Life'  is  not  going  to  desert 
us  too,  and  when  are  we  to  see  you?  ...  I  have 
received  your  mother's  letter  announcing  her  arrival  at 
*  Bremo.'  .  .  .  Tell  your  mother,  however,  to  come 
when  she  chooses  and  when  most  to  her  comfort  and 
convenience.  She  can  come  to  the  hotel  where  I  am, 
and  stay  until  the  house  is  ready.  There  is  no  difficulty 
in  that,  and  she  can  be  very  comfortable.  My  rooms 
are  up  on  the  3d  floor  and  her  meals  can  be  sent  to  her. 
Tell  Rob  the  chills  will  soon  leave  him  now.  Mrs.  Cocke 
will  cure  him.  Give  much  love  to  your  mamma,  Mildred, 
Rob,  and  all  at  'Bremo.' 

"  Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.   LEE. 

"Miss  Agnes  Lee." 

Colonel  Ellis,  President  of  the  James  River  and  Kanawha 
Canal  Company,  placed  at  my  mother's  disposal  his 


1 96       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

private  boat,  which  enabled  her  to  reach  "Bremo"  with 
great  ease  and  comfort,  and  when  she  was  ready  to  go 
to  Lexington  the  same  boat  was  again  given  her.  It 
was  well  fitted  up  with  sleeping  accommodations,  carried 
a  cook,  and  had  a  dining-room.  It  corresponded  to  the 
private  car  of  the  present  railroad  magnate,  and,  though 
not  so  sumptuous,  was  more  roomy  and  comfortable. 
When  provisions  became  scarce  we  purchased  fresh 
supplies  from  any  farm-house  near  the  canal-bank,  tied 
up  at  night,  and  made  about  four  miles  an  hour  during 
the  day.  It  was  slow  but  sure,  and  no  mode  of  travel, 
even  at  the  present  day,  could  have  suited  my  mother 
better.  She  was  a  great  invalid  from  rheumatism,  and 
had  to  be  lifted  whenever  she  moved.  When  put  in 
her  wheel-chair,  she  could  propel  herself  on  a  level  floor, 
or  could  move  about  her  room  very  slowly  and  with 
great  difficulty  on  her  crutches,  but  she  was  always 
bright,  sunny-tempered,  and  uncomplaining,  constantly 
occupied  with  her  books,  letters,  knitting,  and  painting, 
for  the  last  of  which  she  had  great  talent. 

On  November  2oth  my  father  writes  to  her  from  Lex 
ington  : 

"  I  was  very  glad  to  hear,  by  your  letter  of  the  i  ith,  of 
your  safe  arrival  at '  Bremo.'  I  feel  very  grateful  to  Col. 
Ellis  for  his  thoughtful  consideration  in  sending  you  in  his 
boat,  as  you  made  the  journey  in  so  much  more  comfort. 
It  is  indeed  sad  to  be  removed  from  our  kind  friends  at 
'Oakland,'  who  seemed  never  to  tire  of  contributing  to 
our  convenience  and  pleasure,  and  who  even  continue 
their  kindness  at  this  distance.  Just  as  the  room  which 
I  had  selected  for  you  was  finished,  I  received  the  accom 
panying  note  from  Mrs.  Cocke,  to  which  I  responded 
and  thanked  her  in  your  name,  placing  the  room  at  her 
disposal.  The  paint  is  hardly  dry  yet,  but  will  be  ready 


PRESIDENT  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE    197 

this  week,  to  receive  the  furniture  if  completed.  I 
know  no  more  about  it  than  is  contained  in  her  note. 
I  was  also  informed,  last  night,  that  a  very  handsome 
piano  had  been  set  up  in  the  house,  brought  from  Balti 
more  by  the  maker  as  a  present  from  his  firm  or  some 
friends.  I  have  not  seen  it  or  the  maker.  This  is  an 
article  of  furniture  that  we  might  well  dispense  with  under 
present  circumstances,  though  I  am  equally  obliged  to 
those  whose  generosity  prompted  its  bestowal.  Tell 
Mildred  I  shall  now  insist  on  her  resuming  her  music, 
and,  in  addition  to  her  other  labours,  she  must  practise 
seven  hours  a  day  on  the  piano,  until  she  becomes  suffi 
ciently  proficient  to  play  agreeably  to  herself  and  others, 
and  promptly  and  gracefully,  whenever  invited.  I  think 
we  should  enjoy  all  the  amenities  of  life  that  are  within 
our  reach,  and  which  have  been  provided  for  us  by  our 
Heavenly  Father.  ...  I  am  sorry  Rob  has  a  return 
of  his  chills,  but  he  will  soon  lose  them  now.  Ask  Miss 
Mary  to  disperse  them.  She  is  very  active  and  energetic ; 
they  cannot  stand  before  her.  ...  I  hope  Agnes  has 
received  my  letter,  and  that  she  has  made  up  her  mind 
to  come  up  to  her  papa.  Tell  her  there  are  plenty  of 
weddings  here,  if  she  likes  those  things.  There  is  to  be 
one  Tuesday — Miss  Mamie  Williamson  to  Captain  Eofl. 
Beverley  Turner  is  to  be  married  the  same  night,  to  Miss 
Rose  Skinker,  and  sweet  Margaret  will  also  leave  us.  If 
they  go  at  three  a  night,  there  will  soon  be  none  of  our 
acquaintances  left.  I  told  Agnes  to  tell  you  to  come 
up  whenever  most  convenient  to  you.  If  the  house  is 
habitable  I  will  take  you  there.  If  not,  will  bring  you 
to  the  hotel.  ...  I  wish  I  could  take  advantage 
of  this  fine  weather  to  perform  the  journey.  .  .  ." 


CHAPTER  XI 
THE  IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH 

PHOTOGRAPHS  AND  AUTOGRAPHS  IN  DEMAND — THE  GEN- 

ERAL'S  INTEREST  IN  YOUNG  PEOPLE — HIS  HAPPY  HOME 

LIFE — LABOURS  AT  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE — HE  GAINS 
FINANCIAL  AID  FOR  IT — WORSLEY*S  TRANSLATION  OF 
HOMER  DEDICATED  TO  HIM — TRIBUTES  FROM  OTHER 
ENGLISH  SCHOLARS 

THE  people  of  Virginia  and  of  the  entire  South  were 
continually  giving  evidence  of  their  intense  love  for 
General  Lee.  From  all  nations,  even  from  the  Northern 
States,  came  to  him  marks  of  admiration  and  respect. 
Just  at  this  time  he  received  many  applications  for  his 
photograph  with  autograph  attached.  I  believe  there 
were  none  of  the  little  things  in  life  so  irksome  to  him  as 
having  his  picture  taken  in  any  way,  but,  when  able  to 
comply,  he  could  not  refuse  to  do  what  was  asked  of  him 
by  those  who  were  willing  and  anxious  to  do  so  much 

for  him. 

In  the  following  letter  the  photographs  referred  to 
had  been  sent  to  him  for  his  signature,  from  a  supply  that 
my  mother  generally  kept  on  hand.  She  was  often 
asked  for  them  by  those  who  very  considerately  desired 
to  save  my  father  the  trouble: 

"  LEXINGTON,  November  21,  1865. 
"My  Dear  Mary:     I  have  just  received  your  letter  of 
the  i  yth,  and  return  the  photographs  with  my  signatures. 

198 


THE   IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH  199 

I  wrote  to  you  by  the  boat  of  yesterday  morning.  I  also 
sent  you  a  packet  of  letters  by  Captain  Wilkinson,* 
which  also  ought  to  have  reached  you  to-day.  I  have 
nothing  to  add  to  my  former  letters,  and  only  write  now 
that  you  may  receive  the  photos  before  you  leave.  I 
answered  Agnes'  letter  immediately,  and  inclosed  her 
several  letters.  I  was  in  hopes  she  had  made  up  her 
mind  to  eschew  weddings  and  stick  to  her  papa.  I  do 
not  think  she  can  help  little  Sallie.  Besides,  she  will  not 
take  the  oath — how  can  she  get  married  ?  The  wedding 
party  from  this  place  go  down  in  the  boat  to-night  to 
Lynchburg — Miss  Williamson  and  Captain  EofL  They 
are  to  be  married  in  church  at  eight  P.  M.  and  embark  at 
eleven.  I  wish  them  a  pleasant  passage  and  am  glad  I 
am  not  of  the  party.  The  scenery  along  the  river  will 
no  doubt  be  cheering  and  agreeable.  I  think  the  repairs 
of  the  house  will  be  completed  this  week;  should  the 
furniture  arrive,  it  will  be  habitable  next.  The  weather 
is  still  beautiful,  which  is  in  our  favour.  I  am  glad 
Caroline  is  so  promising.  I  have  engaged  no  servant  here 
yet,  nor  have  I  found  one  to  my  liking.  We  can  get 
some  of  some  kind,  and  do  better  when  we  can.  I  have 
heard  nothing  of  the  wedding  at  'Belmead,'  and  do  not 
think  Preston  will  go.  Mrs.  Cocke  is  very  well,  but  the 
furniture  she  intends  for  your  room  is  not  yet  completed. 
It  will  be  more  comfortable  and  agreeable  to  you  to  go 
at  once  to  the  house  on  your  arrival.  But  if  there  is 
anything  to  make  it  more  desirable  for  you  to  come  before 
the  house  is  ready,  you  must  come  to  the  hotel.  If  we 
could  only  get  comfortable  weather  in  December,  it 
would  be  better  not  to  go  into  the  house  until  it  is  dry, 
the  paint  hard,  etc.  It  will  require  all  this  week  to  get 
the  wood  done;  then  it  must  be  scoured,  etc.,  and  the 
furniture  properly  arranged.  Tell  Rob  he  will  soon  be 
well.  He  must  cheer  up  and  come  and  see  his  papa. 
Give  my  love  to  Mrs.  Cocke,  Miss  Mary,  etc.,  etc.  Tell 
Agnes,  if  she  thinks  Sallie  is  in  extremis,  to  go  to  her.  I 

*Commander  of  the  canal  packet. 


200       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

do  not  want  her  to  pass  away,  but  it  is  a  great  disap 
pointment  to  me  not  to  have  her  with  me.  I  am  getting 
very  old  and  infirm  now,  and  she  had  better  come  to  her 
papa  and  take  care  of  him. 

"  Most  affectionately  yours,         R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 

My  father  was  always  greatly  interested  in  the  love 
affairs  of  his  relatives,  friends,  and  acquaintances.  His 
letters  during  the  war  show  this  in  very  many  ways. 
One  would  suppose  that  the  general  commanding  an 
army  in  active  operations  could  not  find  the  time  even  to 
think  of  such  trifles,  much  less  to  write  about  them;  but 
he  knew  of  very  many  such  affairs  among  his  officers  and 
even  his  men,  and  would  on  occasion  refer  to  them  before 
the  parties  themselves,  very  much  to  their  surprise  and 
discomfiture.  Bishop  Peterkin,  of  West  Virginia,  who 
served  on  the  staff  of  General  Pendleton,  tells  me  of  the 
following  instances,  in  illustration  of  this  characteristic: 

"It  was  in  the  winter  of  1863-4,  when  we  were 
Damped  near  Orange  Court  House,  that,  meeting  the 
General  after  I  had  come  back  from  a  short  visit  to 
Richmond,  he  asked  after  my  father,  and  then  said,  '  Did 
you  see  Miss  -  —  ?'  and  I  replied,  'No,  sir;  I  did  not.' 
Then  again,  'Did  you  see  Miss  -  —  ?'  and  when  I  still 
replied  'No,'  he  added,  with  a  smile,  'How  exceedingly 
busy  you  must  have  been. ' 

"Again — at  the  cavalry  review  at  Brandy  Station,  on 
June  8,  1863 — we  had  galloped  all  around  the  lines,  when 
the  General  took  his  post  for  the  'march  past,'  and  all 
the  staff  in  attendance  grouped  themselves  about  him. 
There  being  no  special  orders  about  our  positions,  I  got 
pretty  near  the  General.  I  noticed  that  several  times  he 
turned  and  looked  toward  an  ambulance  near  us,  filled 


THE   IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH  201 

with  young  girls.  At  last,  after  regiments  and  brigades 
had  gone  by,  the  Horse  Artillery  came  up.  The  General 
turned  and,  finding  me  near  him,  said,  '  Go  and  tell  that 
young  lady  with  the  blue  ribbon  in  her  hat  that  such- 
and-such  a  battery  is  coming/ 

"I  rode  up  and  saluted  the  young  lady.  There  was 
great  surprise  shown  by  the  entire  party,  as  I  was  not 
known  to  any  of  them,  and  when  I  came  out  with  my 
message  there  was  a  universal  shout,  while  the  General 
looked  on  with  a  merry  twinkle  in  his  eye.  It  was 
evidently  the  following  up  on  his  part  of  some  joke  which 
he  had  with  the  young  lady  about  an  officer  in  this 
battery." 

My  mother  had  arranged  to  start  for  Lexington  on 
November  28th,  via  the  canal,  but  for  some  reason  was 
prevented  on  that  day.  In  his  next  letter,  my  father, 
who  was  most  anxious  that  she  should  make  the  journey 
before  the  bad  weather  set  in,  expresses  his  disappoint 
ment  at  not  finding  her  on  the  packet  on  the  expected 
morning. 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  November  30,  1865. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  am  much  disappointed  that  you 
did  not  arrive  on  the  boat  last  night,  and  as  you  had 
determined  when  you  wrote  Saturday,  the  25th,  to  take 
the  boat  as  it  passed  Tuesday,  I  fear  you  were  prevented 
either  by  the  indisposition  of  yourself  or  of  Robert's.  I 
shall,  however,  hope  that  it  was  owing  to  some  less  dis 
tressing  cause.  Our  room  is  all  ready  and  looks 
remarkably  nice.  Mrs.  Cocke,  in  her  great  kindness, 
seems  to  have  provided  everything  for  it  that  you  require, 
and  you  will  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  take  possession. 
The  ladies  have  also  arranged  the  other  rooms  as  far  as 
the  furniture  will  allow.  They  have  put  down  the 
carpets  in  the  parlour,  dining-room,  and  two  chambers 


202       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

upstairs,  and  have  put  furniture  in  one  room.  They 
have  also  put  up  the  curtains  in  the  rooms  downstairs, 
and  put  a  table  and  chairs  in  the  dining-room.  We  have, 
therefore,  everything  which  is  required  for  living,  as 
soon  as  the  crockery,  etc.,  arrives  from  'Derwent,'  of 
which  as  yet  I  have  heard  nothing.  Neither  has  the 
furniture  from  Baltimore  arrived,  and  the  season  is  so 
far  advanced  that  we  may  be  deprived  of  that  all  winter. 
But  with  what  we  now  have,  if  we  can  get  that  from 
*  Derwent, '  we  shall  do  very  well.  There  is  some  report 
of  the  packets  between  this  place  and  Lynchburg  being 
withdrawn  from  the  line,  which  renders  me  more  uneasy 
about  your  journey  up.  This  is  a  bright  and  beautiful 
morning,  and  there  is  no  indication  of  a  change  of  weather, 
but  the  season  is  very  uncertain,  and  snow  and  ice  may 
be  upon  us  any  day.  I  think  you  had  better  come  now 
the  first  opportunity.  Do  not  take  the  boat  which  passes 
'  Bremo '  Saturday.  It  reaches  Lynchburg  Sunday  morn 
ing,  arriving  here  Monday  night.  You  would  in  that  case 
have  to  lie  at  the  wharf  at  Lynchburg  all  day  Sunday. 
I  have  heard  of  Agnes'  arrival  in  Richmond,  and  shall 
be  happy  to  have  'Precious  Life'  write  me  again.  I 
have  engaged  a  man  for  the  balance  of  the  year,  who 
professes  to  know  everything.  He  can  at  least  make  up 
fires,  and  go  on  errands,  and  attend  to  the  yard  and 
stable.  I  have  heard  nothing  of  Jimmy.  Give  my 
kind  regards  to  all  at  '  Bremo. '  Custis  is  well  and  went 
to  the  boat  to  meet  you  this  morning.  The  boat  stops 
one  and  one-quarter  miles  from  town.  Remain  aboard 
until  we  come. 

11  Most  affectionately  yours,          R.  E.  LEE. 

"P.  S. — Since  writing  the  foregoing  I  have  received 
your  letter  of  the  28th.  I  shall  expect  you  Saturday 
morning.  R.  E.  L. 

"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 

At  this  time  the  packet-boat  from  Lynchburg  to 
Lexington,  via  the  James  River  and  Kanawha  Canal,  was 


THE   IDOL  OF  THE   SOUTH  203 

the  easiest  way  of  reaching  Lexington  from  the  outside 
world.  It  was  indeed  the  only  way,  except  by  stage 
from  Goshen,  twenty-one  miles  distant,  a  station  of  the 
Chesapeake  &  Ohio  R.  R.  The  canal  ran  from  Lynch- 
burg  to  Richmond,  and  just  after  the  war  did  a  large 
business.  The  boats  were  very  uncertain  in  their 
schedules,  and  my  father  was  therefore  very  particular  in 
his  directions  to  my  mother,  to  insure  her  as  far  as  he 
could  a  comfortable  journey.* 

We  did  get  off  at  last,  and  after  a  very  comfortable 
trip  arrived  at  Lexington  on  the  morning  of  December 
2d.  My  father,  on  Traveller,  was  there  to  meet  us, 
and,  putting  us  all  in  a  carriage,  escorted  us  to  our  new 
home.  On  arriving,  we  found  awaiting  us  a  delicious 
breakfast  sent  by  Mrs.  Nelson,  the  wife  of  Professor 
Nelson.  The  house  was  in  good  order — thanks  to  the 
ladies  of  Lexington — but  rather  bare  of  furniture,  except 
my  mother's  rooms.  Mrs.  Cocke  had  completely  furnished 
them,  and  her  loving  thoughtfulness  had  not  forgotten 
the  smallest  detail.  Mrs.  Margaret  J.  Preston,  the 
talented  and  well-known  poetess,  had  drawn  the  designs 
for  the  furniture,  and  a  one-armed  Confederate  soldier 
had  made  it  all.  A  handsomely  carved  grand  piano, 
presented  by  Stieff,  the  famous  maker  of  Baltimore, 
stood  alone  in  the  parlour.  The  floors  were  covered  with 
the  carpets  rescued  from  Arlington — much  too  large  and 
folded  under  to  suit  the  reduced  size  of  the  rooms.  Some 
of  the  bedrooms  were  partially  furnished,  and  the  dining- 
room  had  enough  in  it  to  make  us  very  comfortable.  We 
were  all  very  grateful  and  happy — glad  to  get  home — the 
only  one  we  had  had  for  four' long  years. 

*  My  father  was  not  aware,  when  he  wrote  such  explicit  directions 
about  the  route,  that  Colonel  Ellis  had  again  put  his  boat  at  my 
mother's  service. 


2o4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

My  father  appeared  bright  and  even  gay.  He  was 
happy  in  seeing  us  all,  and  in  knowing  that  my  mother 
was  comfortably  established  near  to  him.  He  showed 
us  over  the  house,  and  pointed  with  evident  satisfaction 
to  the  goodly  array  of  pickles,  preserves,  and  brandy- 
peaches  which  our  kind  neighbours  had  placed  in  the 
store-room.  Indeed,  for  days  and  weeks  afterward 
supplies  came  pouring  in  to  my  mother  from  the  people 
in  the  town  and  country,  even  from  the  poor  mountaineers, 
who,  anxious  to  "do  something  to  help  General  Lee," 
brought  in  hand-bags  of  walnuts,  potatoes,  and  game. 
Such  kindness — delicate  and  considerate  always — as 
was  shown  to  my  father's  family  by  the  people,  both  of 
the  town  and  the  country  around,  not  only  then  but  to 
this  day,  has  never  been  surpassed  in  any  community. 
It  was  a  tribute  of  love  and  sympathy  from  honest  and 
tender  hearts  to  the  man  who  had  done  all  that  he  could 
for  them. 

My  father  was  much  interested  in  all  the  arrangements 
of  the  house,  even  to  the  least  thing.  He  would  laugh 
merrily  over  the  difficulties  that  appalled  the  rest  of  us. 
Our  servants  were  few  and  unskilled,  but  his  patience 
and  self-control  never  failed.  The  silver  of  the  family 
had  been  sent  to  Lexington  for  safe-keeping  early  in  the 
war.  When  General  Hunter  raided  the  Valley  of  Virginia 
and  advanced  upon  Lexington,  to  remove  temptation 
out  of  his  way,  this  silver,  in  two  large  chests,  had  been 
intrusted  to  the  care  of  the  old  and  faithful  sergeant  at 
the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  and  he  had  buried  it  in 
some  safe  place  known  only  to  himself.  I  was  sent  out 
with  him  to  dig  it  up  and  bring  it  in.  We  found  it  safe 
and  sound,  but  black  with  mould  and  damp,  useless  for 
the  time  being,  so  my  father  opened  his  camp-chest  and 


THE   IDOL  OF  THE   SOUTH  205 

we  used  his  forks,  spoons,  plates,  etc.,  while  his  camp- 
stools  supplied  the  deficiency  in  seats.  He  often  teased 
my  sisters  about  their  experiments  in  cookery  and 
household  arts,  encouraging  them  to  renewed  efforts 
after  lamentable  failures.  When  they  succeeded  in  a 
dish  for  the  table,  or  completed  any  garment  with  their 
own  hands,  he  was  lavish  with  his  praise.  He  would  say  : 

"  You  are  all  very  helpless ;  I  don't  know  what  you  will 
do  when  I  am  gone,"  and 

"  If  you  want  to  be  missed  by  your  friends — be  useful." 

He  at  once  set  to  work  to  improve  all  around  him,  laid 
out  a  vegetable  garden,  planted  roses  and  shrubs,  set 
out  fruit  and  yard  trees,  made  new  walks  and  repaired 
the  stables,  so  that  in  a  short  time  we  were  quite  com 
fortable  and  very  happy.  He  at  last  had  a  home  of  his 
own,  with  his  wife  and  daughters  around  him,  and 
though  it  was  not  the  little  farm  in  the  quiet  country 
for  which  he  had  so  longed,  it  was  very  near  to  it,  and  it 
gave  rest  to  himself  and  those  he  loved  most  dearly. 

His  duties  as  president  of  Washington  College  were 
far  from  light.  His  time  was  fully  occupied,  and  his 
new  position  did  not  relieve  him  from  responsibility,  care 
and  anxiety.  He  took  pains  to  become  acquainted  with 
each  student  personally,  to  be  really  his  guide  and  friend. 
Their  success  gratified  and  pleased  him,  and  their  failures, 
in  any  degree,  pained  and  grieved  him.  He  felt  that  he 
was  responsible  for  their  well-doing  and  progress,  and 
he  worked  very  hard  to  make  them  good  students  and 
useful  men. 

The  grounds  and  buildings  of  the  college  soon  began 
to  show  his  care,  attention,  and  good  taste.  In  all  his 
life,  wherever  he  happened  to  be,  he  immediately  set  to 
work  to  better  his  surroundings.  The  sites  selected  for 


206       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

his  headquarter  camps  during  the  war,  if  occupied  for 
more  than  a  day,  showed  his  tasteful  touch.  When 
superintendent  at  West  Point,  the  improvements  sug 
gested  and  planned  by  him  were  going  on  for  the  three 
years  he  remained  there.  Very  soon  after  he  assumed 
charge  of  Arlington,  the  place  showed,  in  its  improved 
condition,  the  effects  of  his  energetic  industry.  The 
college  at  Lexington  was  a  splendid  field  for  the  exercise 
of  his  abilities  in  this  line.  The  neighbouring  Virginia 
Military  Institute  soon  followed  the  example  he  had  set, 
and  after  a  year  the  municipal  authorities  of  Lexington 
were  aroused  to  the  necessity  of  bettering  their  streets 
and  sidewalks,  and  its  inhabitants  realised  the  need  of 
improving  and  beautifying  their  homes.  He  managed  a 
very  large  correspondence,  answering  every  letter  when 
possible,  the  greater  proportion  with  his  own  hand.  To 
the  members  of  his  own  family  who  were  away  he  wrote 
regularly,  and  was  their  best  correspondent  on  home 
matters,  telling  in  his  charming  way  all  the  sayings  and 
doings  of  the  household  and  the  neighbours. 

My  sister  Agnes  had  gone  to  the  wedding  of  Miss 
Warwick  direct  from  "Bremo, "  and  was  in  Richmond 
when  my  father  sent  her  two  of  the  first  letters  he  wrote 
after  the  arrival  of  my  mother  in  Lexington: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  December  5,  1865. 
"My  Worrying  Little  Agnes:  Your  letter  of  the  ist 
received  to-night.  I  have  autographed  the  photographs 
and  send  a  gross  of  the  latter  and  a  lock  of  hair.  Present 
my  love  to  the  recipients  and  thank  them  for  their 
favours.  Sally  is  going  to  marry  a  widower.  I  think  I 
ought  to  know,  as  she  refused  my  son,  and  I  do  not  wish 
to  know  his  name.  I  wonder  if  she  knows  how  many 
children  he  has.  Tell  Mr.  Warwick  I  am  sorry  for  him. 
I  do  not  know  what  he  will  do  without  his  sweet  daughter. 


THE  IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH  207 

Nor  do  I  know  what  I  will  do  without  her,  either.  Your 
mother  has  written — Mildred,  too — and  I  presume  has 
told  you  all  domestic  news.  Custis  is  promenading  the 
floor,  Rob  reading  the  papers,  and  Mildred  packing  her 
dress.  Your  mamma  is  up  to  her  eyes  in  news,  and  I  am 
crabbed  as  usual.  I  miss  you  very  much  and  hope  this 
is  the  last  wedding  you  will  attend.  Good-bye.  Love 
to  everybody. 

"  Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  AGNES  LEE." 

The  other  is  dated  nearly  a  month  later,  and  from  this 
it  appears  that  the  wedding  so  often  referred  to  is  about 
to  take  place: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  3,  1866. 
"My  Precious  Little  Agnes:  I  sat  down  to  give  my 
dear  little  Sally — for  she  is  dear  to  me  in  the  broadest, 
highest  sense  of  the  word — the  benefit  of  Jeremy  Taylor's 
opinion  on  hasty  marriages.  But,  on  reflection,  I  fear 
it  would  be  words  lost,  for  your  mother  says  her  ex 
perience  has  taught  her  that  when  a  young  woman  makes 
up  her  mind  to  get  married,  you  might  as  well  let  her 
alone.  You  must,  therefore,  just  thank  her  for  the 
pretty  inkstand,  and  say  that  I'll  need  no  reminder  of  her, 
but  I  do  not  know  when  I  shall  make  up  my  mind  to 
stain  it  with  ink.  I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your  letter 
of  the  26th,  and  to  think  that  you  were  mindful  of  us.  I 
know  you  do  not  wish  to  be  away,  though  you  are  striving 
to  get  as  far  away  as  possible.  When  you  reach  Norfolk, 
you  will  be  so  convenient  to  New  York,  whence  steamers 
depart  almost  daily  for  Europe.  Let  us  know  when  you 
sail.  But  I  do  not  write  to  restrain  your  movements, 
though  you  know  how  solitary  I  am  without  you.  I 
inclose  .  .  .  which,  with  what  I  gave  Mildred,  I 
hope  will  answer  your  purpose.  Send  me  or  bring  me  the 
photographs  I  asked  for.  I  like  them  of  the  last  edition ; 
they  seem  to  take  with  the  little  school-girls,  and  I  have 


208       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

nothing  else  to  give  them.  I  hope  you  will  have  a  safe 
and  pleasant  trip.  Tell  Mr.  Warwick  I  shall  sorrow  with 
him  to-night — though  I  believe  Mrs.  Lee  is  right.  Re 
member  me  to  all  friends,  and  believe  me, 

"  Your  devoted  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  AGNES  LEE." 

The  latter  part  of  January  my  father  was  sent  by  the 
board  of  trustees  to  Richmond  to  confer  with  the 
Committee  on  Education  of  the  Virginia  Legislature, 
then  in  session,  as  to  some  funds  of  the  State  held  by 
Washington  College.  His  mission  was,  I  believe,  suc 
cessful,  and  great  material  aid  was  gained.  He  remained 
no  longer  than  was  absolutely  necessary,  and,  returning 
to  his  duties  at  Lexington,  encountered  a  severe  snow 
storm.  The  difficulties  he  had  to  overcome  are  described 
in  the  following  letter  to  his  daughter  Agnes,  whom  he 
had  met  in  Richmond,  and  who  had  gone  from  there  to 
visit  some  friends  in  Norfolk: 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  29,  1866. 
" My  Precious  Little  Agnes:  I  have  received  your 
letter  of  the  i;th,  transmitting  the  photographs,  for  which 
I  am  very  much  obliged.  I  returned  the  one  for  Miss 
Laura  Lippett,  whom  I  wish  I  could  see  once  again.  It 
would  be  more  agreeable  to  me  than  any  photograph. 
I  had  quite  a  successful  journey  up,  notwithstanding  the 
storm.  The  snow  increased  as  we  approached  the 
mountains,  and  night  had  set  in  before  we  reached 
Staunton.  The  next  morning,  before  sunrise,  in  spite 
of  the  predictions  of  the  wise  ones,  I  took  passage  on  the 
single  car  which  was  attached  to  the  locomotive,  and 
arrived  at  Goshen  about  10  A.  M.,  where,  after  some  little 
encouragement,  the  stage-driver  attached  his  horses  to 
the  stage,  and  we  started  slowly  through  the  mountains, 
breaking  the  track.  On  reaching  the  Baths,  the  North 
River  was  unfordable,  but  I  was  ferried  across  in  a  skiff, 


THE  IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH  209 

with  all  my  bundles  (I  picked  up  two  more  in  Staunton 
and  one  at  Goshen)  and  packages,  and  took  a  stage  de 
tained  on  the  opposite  bank  for  Lexington,  where  I 
arrived  in  good  time.  I  found  all  as  well  as  usual,  and 
disappointed  at  not  seeing  you  with  me,  though  I  was 
not  expected.  I  told  them  how  anxious  you  were  to  come 
with  me,  and  how  you  wanted  to  see  them,  but  that  you 
looked  so  wretchedly  I  could  not  encourage  you.  I 
hope  you  are  now  in  Norfolk,  and  that  the  fish  and 
oysters  will  fatten  you  and  cure  your  feet !  .  .  .  But 
get  strong  and  keep  well,  and  do  not  wear  yourself  out 
in  the  pursuit  of  pleasure.  I  hope  you  will  soon  join  us, 
and  that  Lexington  may  prove  to  you  a  happy  home. 
Your  mother  is  a  great  sufferer,  but  is  as  quiet  and  un 
complaining  as  ever.  Mildred  is  active  and  cheerful, 
and  Custis  and  I  as  silent  as  our  wont.  Major  Campbell 
Brown  is  here  on  a  visit.  I  am  surprised  to  find  him  such 
a  talker.  I  am  very  sorry  to  find  that  Preston  Cocke  has 
been  obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  his  health.  I  have 
one  comfort:  my  dear  nephew  will  never  injure  himself 
by  studying.  Do  not  be  alarmed  about  him.  .  .  . 
Remember  me  to  Colonel  Taylor,  all  his  mother's  family, 
his  wife,  the  Bakers,  Seldens,  etc.  I  know  none  of  the 
latter  but  the  Doctor,  for  whom  I  have  always  had  a 
great  esteem.  Your  mother,  brother,  and  Mildred  send 
their  best  love  and  kindest  wishes.  I  am  always, 

"Your  devoted  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  AGNES  LEE." 


It  was  at  Dr.  Selden's  house  that  my  sister  was  visiting. 
He  had  been  very  kind  in  offering  assistance  to  my  father 
and  mother.  I  remember  well  the  supper  given  me  and 
several  of  my  comrades  when  we  were  coming  back  from 
the  surrender,  and  while  the  Doctor  and  his  family  were 
refugees  at  Liberty,  now  Bedford  City,Va.  Stopping  there 
one  night,  weary  and  hungry,  while  looking  for  quarters 
for  man  and  beast,  I  got  a  note  asking  me  and  my  friends 


210       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

to  come  to  their  house.  An  invitation  of  that  kind  was 
never  refused  in  those  days.  We  went  and  were  treated 
as  if  we  had  been  sons  of  the  house,  the  young  ladies  them 
selves  waiting  on  us.  In  the  morning,  when  we  were 
about  to  start,  they  filled  our  haversacks  with  rations,  and 
Mrs.  Selden,  taking  me  aside,  offered  me  a  handful  of  gold 
pieces,  saying  that  she  had  more  and  that  she  could  not 
bear  to  think  of  my  father's  son  being  without  as  long  as 
she  possessed  any. 

The  love  and  devotion  shown  my  father  by  all  the  peo 
ple  of  the  South  was  deeply  appreciated  by  him.  He 
longed  to  help  them,  but  was  almost  powerless.  I  think 
he  felt  that  something  could  be  done  in  that  direction  by 
teaching  and  training  their  youth,  and  I  am  sure  this  idea 
greatly  influenced  him  in  deciding  to  accept  the  presidency 
of  Washington  College.  The  advantages  to  the  South  of 
a  proper  education  of  her  youth  were  very  evident  to  him. 
He  strongly  urged  it  wherever  and  whenever  he  could. 
In  a  letter  written  at  this  time  to  the  Reverend  G.  W.  Ley- 
burn,  he  speaks  very  forcibly  on  the  subject : 

"  So  greatly  have  those  interests  [educational]  been  dis 
turbed  at  the  South,  and  so  much  does  its  future  condition 
depend  upon  the  rising  generation,  that  I  consider  the 
proper  education  of  its  youth  one  of  the  most  important 
objects  now  to  be  attained,  and  one  from  which  the  great 
est  benefits  may  be  expected.  Nothing  will  compensate 
us  for  the  depression  of  the  standard  of  our  moral  and 
intellectual  culture,  and  each  State  should  take  the  most 
energetic  measures  to  revive  the  schools  and  colleges,  and, 
if  possible,  to  increase  the  facilities  for  instruction,  and  to 
elevate  the  standard  of  learning.  .  .  ." 

Again,  in  a  letter  to  General  John  B.  Gordon,  written 
December,  1867,  he  says: 


THE  IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH  211 

"  The  thorough  education  of  all  classes  of  the  people  is 
the  most  efficacious  means,  in  my  opinion,  of  promoting 
the  prosperity  of  the  South.  The  material  interests  of 
its  citizens,  as  well  as  their  moral  and  intellectual  culture, 
depend  upon  its  accomplishment.  The  text-books  of 
our  schools,  therefore,  should  not  only  be  clear,  systematic, 
and  scientific,  but  they  should  be  acceptable  to  parents 
and  pupils  in  order  to  enlist  the  minds  of  all  in  the  sub 
jects." 

In  a  letter  to  a  friend  in  Baltimore  he  is  equally  earnest : 

"  I  agree  with  you  fully  as  to  the  importance  of  a  more 
practical  course  of  instruction  in  our  schools  and  colleges, 
which,  calling  forth  the  genius  and  energies  of  our  people, 
will  tend  to  develop  the  resources  and  promote  the  inter 
ests  of  the  country." 

In  many  other  letters  at  this  time  and  later  on,  espe 
cially  in  one  to  Professor  Minor,  who  had  been  appointed 
with  him  upon  a  board  by  the  Educational  Society  of 
Virginia,  did  he  urge  the  importance  of  education  for  the 
present  and  future  safety,  welfare,  and  prosperity  of  the 
country.  Among  the  many  tokens  of  respect  and  admira 
tion,  love,  and  sympathy  which  my  father  received  from 
all  over  the  world,  there  was  one  that  touched  him  deeply. 
It  was  a  "Translation  of  Homer's  Iliad  by  Philip  Stan 
hope  Worsley,  Fellow  of  Corpus  Chris ti  College,  Oxford, 
England,"  which  the  talented  young  poet  and  author  sent 
him,  through  the  General's  nephew,  Mr.  Edward  Lee 
Childe,  of  Paris,  a  special  friend  of  Mr.  Worsley.  I  copy 
the  latter's  letter  to  Mr.  Childe,  as  it  shows  some  of  the 
motives  influencing  him  in  the  dedication  of  his  work : 

"  My  Dear  Friend:  You  will  allow  me,  in  dedicating  this 
work  to  you,  to  offer  it  at  the  same  time  as  a  poor  yet  not 


212       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

altogether  unmeaning  tribute  of  my  reverence  for  your 
brave  and  illustrious  uncle,  General  Lee.  He  is  the  hero, 
like  Hector  in  the  Iliad,  of  the  most  glorious  cause  for 
which  men  can  fight,  and  some  of  the  grandest  passages  in 
the  poem  come  to  me  with  yet  more  affecting  power  when 
I  remember  his  lofty  character  and  undeserved  mis 
fortunes.  The  great  names  that  your  country  has 
bequeathed  from  its  four  lurid  years  of  national  life  as 
examples  to  mankind  can  never  be  forgotten,  and  among 
these  none  will  be  more  honoured,  while  history  endures, 
by  all  true  hearts,  than  that  of  your  noble  relative.  I  need 
not  say  more,  for  I  know  you  must  be  aware  how  much  I 
feel  the  honour  of  associating  my  work,  however  indi 
rectly,  with  one  whose  goodness  and  genius  are  alike  so 
admirable.  Accept  this  token  of  my  deepest  sympathy 
and  regard,  and  believe  me, 

"  Ever  most  sincerely  yours, 

"P.  S.  WORSLEY." 

On  the  fly-leaf  of  the  volume  he  sent  my  father  was 
written  the  following  beautiful  inscription: 

"To  GENERAL  LEE, 

THE  MOST  STAINLESS  OF  LIVING  COMMANDERS 
AND,  EXCEPT  IN  FORTUNE,  THE  GREATEST, 

THIS  VOLUME  IS  PRESENTED 

WITH  THE  WRITER'S  EARNEST  SYMPATHY 

AND  RESPECTFUL  ADMIRATION 

4     .  otbs  yap  e'pvtro  "/Aiov  °E*cT«p. ' 

Iliad  vi — 403," 

and  just  beneath,  by  the  same  ha/id,  the  following  beauti 
ful  verses : 

"The  grand  old  bard  that  never  dies, 

Receive  him  in  our  English  tongue! 
I  send  thee,  but  with  weeping  eyes, 
The  story  that  he  sung. 


THE   IDOL  OF  THE   SOUTH  213 

"Thy  Troy  is  fallen,— thy  dear  land 

Is  marred  beneath  the  spoiler's  heel — 
I  cannot  trust  my  trembling  hand 
To  write  the  things  I  feel. 

"Ah,  realm  of  tears ! — but  let  her  bear 

This  blazon  to  the  end  of  time: 
No  nation  rose  so  white  and  fair, 
None  fell  so  pure  of  crime. 

"The  widow's  moan,  the  orphan's  wail, 

Come  round  thee ;  but  in  truth  be  strong ! 
Eternal  Right,  though  all  else  fail, 
Can  never  be  made  Wrong. 

"An  angel's  heart,  an  angel's  mouth, 
Not  Homer's,  could  alone  for  me 
Hymn  well  the  great  Confederate  South — 
Virginia  first,  and  Lee. 

"P.  S.  W." 


His  letter  of  thanks,  and  the  one  which  he  wrote  later, 
when  he  heard  of  the  ill  health  of  Mr.  Worsley — both  of 
which  I  give  here — show  very  plainly  how  much  he  was 
pleased : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  10,  1866. 
"MR.  P.  S.  WORSLEY. 

"  My  Dear  Sir:  I  have  received  the  copy  of  your  transla 
tion  of  the  Iliad  which  you  so  kindly  presented  to  me.  Its 
perusal  has  been  my  evening's  recreation,  and  I  have 
never  more  enjoyed  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  the  poem 
than  as  recited  by  you.  The  translation  is  as  truthful 
as  powerful,  and  faithfully  represents  the  imagery  and 
rhythm  of  the  bold  original.  The  undeserved  compli 
ment  in  prose  and  verse,  on  the  first  leaves  of  the  volume, 


2i4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

I  received  as  your  tribute  to  the  merit  ©f  my  countrymen, 
who  struggled  for  constitutional  government. 
"With  great  respect, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  14,  1866. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Worsley:  In  a  letter  just  received  from 
my  nephew,  Mr.  Childe,  I  regret  to  learn  that,  at  his  last 
accounts  from  you,  you  were  greatly  indisposed.  So 
great  is  my  interest  in  your  welfare  that  I  cannot  refrain, 
even  at  the  risk  of  intruding  upon  your  sickroom,  from 
expressing  my  sincere  sympathy  in  your  affliction.  I 
trust,  however,  that  ere  this  you  have  recovered  and  are 
again  in  perfect  health.  Like  many  of  your  tastes  and 
pursuits,  I  fear  you  may  confine  youself  too  closely  to  your 
reading.  Less  mental  labour  and  more  of  the  fresh  air  of 
Heaven  might  bring  to  you  more  comfort,  and  to  your 
friends  more  enjoyment,  even  in  the  way  in  which  you 
now  delight  them.  Should  a  visit  to  this  distracted  coun 
try  promise  you  any  recreation,  I  hope  I  need  not  assure 
you  how  happy  I  should  be  to  see  you  at  Lexington.  I 
can  give  you  a  quiet  room,  and  careful  nursing,  and  a  horse 
that  would  delight  to  carry  you  over  our  beautiful  moun 
tains.  I  hope  my  letter  informing  you  of  the  pleasure  I 
derived  from  the  perusal  of  your  translation  of  the  Iliad, 
in  which  I  endeavoured  to  express  my  thanks  for  the 
great  compliment  you  paid  me  in  its  dedication,  has 
informed  you  of  my  high  appreciation  of  the  work. 

"Wishing  you  every  happiness  in  this  world,  and 
praying  that  eternal  peace  may  be  your  portion  in  that  to 
come,  I  am  most  truly,  Your  friend  and  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

That  winter,  my  father  was  accustomed  to  read  aloud  in 
the  long  evenings  to  my  mother  and  sisters  "The  Grand 
Old  Bard,"  equally  to  his  own  and  his  listeners'  enjoyment. 

Two  or  three  years  after  this,  Professor  George  Long, 


THE  IDOL  OF  THE   SOUTH  215 

of  England,  a  distinguished  scholar,  sent  my  father  a  copy 
of  the  second  edition  of  his  "Thoughts  of  the  Emperor 
Marcus  Aurelius."  The  first  edition  of  this  translation 
was  pirated  by  a  Northern  publisher,  who  dedicated  the 
book  to  Emerson.  This  made  Long  very  indignant,  and 
he  immediately  brought  out  a  second  edition  with  the 
following  prefatory  note: 

".  .  .  I  have  never  dedicated  a  book  to  any  man, 
and  if  I  dedicated  this,  I  should  choose  the  man  whose 
name  seemed  to  me  most  worthy  to  be  joined  to  that  of 
the  Roman  soldier  and  philosopher.  I  might  dedicate 
the  book  to  the  successful  general  who  is  now  President 
of  the  United  States,  with  the  hope  that  his  integrity  and 
justice  will  restore  peace  and  happiness,  so  far  as  he  can, 
to  those  unhappy  States  which  have  suffered  so  much 
from  war  and  the  unrelenting  hostility  of  wicked  men. 
But  as  the  Roman  poet  says, 

; '  Victrioo  causa  deis  placuit,  sed  victa  Catoni; ' 
"And  if  I  dedicated  this  little  book  to  any  man,  I  would 
dedicate  it  to  him  who  led  the  Confederate  armies  against 
the  powerful  invader,  and  retired  from  an  unequal  con 
test  defeated,  but  not  dishonoured;  to  the  noble  Vir 
ginian  soldier  whose  talents  and  virtues  place  him  by  the 
side  of  the  best  and  wisest  man  who  sat  on  the  throne  of 
the  imperial  Caesars." 

These  two  nearly  similar  tributes  came  from  the  best- 
cultured  thought  of  England,  and  the  London  Standard, 
speaking  more  for  the  nation  at  large,  says : 

"A  country  which  has  given  birth  to  men  like  him,  and 
those  who  followed  him,  may  look  the  chivalry  of  Europe 
in  the  face  without  shame ;  for  the  fatherlands  of  Sidney 
and  Bayard  never  produced  a  nobler  soldier,  gentleman,  ani, 
Christian  than  General  Robert  E.  Lee" 


2i6       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

In  a  letter  to  his  old  friend,  Mr.  H.  Tutweiler,  of  Vir 
ginia,  Professor  Long  sent  the  following  message  to  my 
father,  which,  however,  was  never  received  by  him,  it 
having  been  sent  to  my  mother  only  after  his  death: 

"  I  did  not  answer  General  Lee's  letter  [one  of  thanks 
for  the  book,  sent  by  Professor  Long  through  Mr.  Tut 
weiler],  because  I  thought  that  he  is  probably  troubled 
with  many  letters.  If  you  should  have  occasion  to  write 
to  him,  I  beg  you  will  present  to  him  my  most  respectful 
regards,  and  my  hope  that  he  will  leave  behind  him  some 
commentary  to  be  placed  on  the  same  shelf  with  Caesar's. 
I  am  afraid  he  is  too  modest  to  do  this.  I  shall  always 
keep  General  Lee's  letter,  and  will  leave  it  to  somebody 
who  will  cherish  the  remembrance  of  a  great  soldier  and 
a  good  man.  If  I  were  not  detained  here  by  circum 
stances,  I  would  cross  the  Atlantic  to  see  the  first  and 
noblest  man  of  our  days." 

Another  noble  English  gentleman,  who  had  shown 
great  kindness  to  the  South  and  who  was  a  warm  admirer 
of  General  Lee,  was  the  Honourable  A.  W.  Beresford 
Hope.  He,  I  think,  was  at  the  head  of  a  number  of 
English  gentlemen  who  presented  the  superb  statue  of 
"Stonewall"  Jackson  by  Foley  to  the  State  of  Virginia. 
It  now  stands  in  the  Capitol  Square  at  Richmond,  and  is 
a  treasure  of  which  the  whole  Commonwealth  may  justly 
be  proud.  Through  Mr.  Hope,  my  father  received  a  hand 
some  copy  of  the  Bible,  and,  in  acknowledgment  of  Mr. 
Hope's  letter,  he  wrote  the  following: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  April  16,  1866. 
"HONOURABLE  A.  W.  BERESFORD  HOPE, 
"Bedgebury  Park, 

"Kent,  England 

"  Sir:  I  have  received  within  a  few  days  your  letter  of 
November  14,  1865,  and  had  hoped  that  by  this  time  it 


THE  IDOL  OF  THE  SOUTH  217 

would  have  been  followed  by  the  copy  of  the  Holy  Scrip 
tures  to  which  you  refer,  that  I  might  have  known  the 
generous  donors,  whose  names,  you  state,  are  inscribed  on 
its  pages.  Its  failure  to  reach  me  will,  I  fear,  deprive  me 
of  that  pleasure,  and  I  must  ask  the  favour  of  you  to  thank 
them  most  heartily  for  their  kindness  in  providing  me 
with  a  book  in  comparison  with  which  all  others  in  my 
eyes  are  of  minor  importance,  and  which  in  all  my  per 
plexities  has  never  failed  to  give  me  light  and  strength. 
Your  assurance  of  the  esteem  in  which  I  am  held  by  a 
large  portion  of  the  British  nation,  as  well  as  by  those  for 
whom  you  speak,  is  most  grateful  to  my  feelings,  though 
I  am  aware  that  I  am  indebted  to  their  generous  natures, 
and  not  to  my  own  merit,  for  their  good  opinion.  I  beg, 
sir,  that  you  will  accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  kind 
sentiments  which  you  have  expressed  toward  me,  and 
my  unfeigned  admiration  of  your  exalted  character.  I 
am,  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


CHAPTER  XII 
LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR 

HIS    INTENTION   TO    WRITE  THE   HISTORY    OF   HIS  VIR 
GINIA  CAMPAIGNS CALLED  BEFORE  A  COMMITTEE  OF 

CONGRESS PREACHES    PATIENCE    AND    SILENCE  TO 

THE  SOUTH — SHUNS  CONTROVERSY  AND  PUBLICITY 

CORRESPONDENCE  WITH   AN  ENGLISHMAN,  HERBERT 
C.  SAUNDERS 

MY  father  had  a  strong  desire  at  this  time  to  write  a 
history  of  his  campaigns.  I  think,  however,  he  gradually 
gave  it  up  when  he  saw  the  great  difficulties  to  be  over 
come  and  the  labour  required  to  produce  anything 
worthy  of  the  subject,  especially  as  he  began  to  realise 
that  his  strength  was  slowly  failing — a  fact  which  his 
letters  indicate.  Just  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities, 
he  had  taken  some  preliminary  steps  toward  acquiring 
the  necessary  material.  In  a  circular  letter  which  he 
sent  out  to  a  great  many  of  his  general  officers,  he  wrote : 

"  I  am  desirous  that  the  bravery  and  devotion  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  be  correctly  transmitted  to 
posterity.  This  is  the  only  tribute  that  can  now  be 
paid  to  the  worth  of  its  noble  officers  and  soldiers,  and  I 
am  anxious  to  collect  the  necessary  information  for  the 
history  of  its  campaigns,  including  the  operations  in  the 
Valley  and  in  Western  Virginia,  from  its  organisation  to 
its  final  surrender.  .  .  ." 

In  a  letter  to  the  Honourable  W.  B.  Reid,  of  Phila 
delphia,  he  writes  on  the  same  subject  : 

218 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR    219 

" .  .  .  I  concur  with  you  entirely  as  to  the  im 
portance  of  a  true  history  of  the  war,  and  it  is  my  purpose, 
unless  prevented,  to  write  the  history  of  the  campaigns  in 
Virginia.  With  this  view,  I  have  been  engaged  since  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  in  endeavouring  to  procure  the 
necessary  official  information.  All  my  records,  reports, 
returns,  etc.,  etc.,  with  the  headquarters  of  the  army, 
were  needlessly  destroyed  by  the  clerks  having  them  in 
charge  on  the  retreat  from  Petersburg,  and  such  as  had 
been  forwarded  to  the  War  Department  in  Richmond 
were  either  destroyed  in  the  conflagration  or  captured  at 
the  South  in  the  attempt  to  save  them.  I  desire  to 
obtain  some  vouchers  in  support  of  my  memory,  or  I 
should  otherwise  have  made  some  progress  in  the  nar 
rative.  I  have  not  even  my  letter-  or  order-books  to 
which  to  refer.  I  have  thought  it  possible  that  some  of 
my  official  correspondence,  which  would  be  of  value  to 
me,  might  be  found  among  the  captured  records  in 
Washington,  and  that  General  Grant,  who  possesses 
magnanimity  as  well  as  ability,  might  cause  me  to  be 
furnished  with  copies.  I  have,  however,  hesitated  to 
approach  him  on  the  subject,  as  it  is  one  in  which  he 
would  naturally  feel  no  interest." 

In  a  letter  to  General  Early,  written  in  November, 
1865,  on  the  same  subject,  he  says: 

" .  .  .  I  desire,  if  not  prevented,  to  write  a  history 
of  the  campaigns  in  Virginia.  .  .  .  Your  reports  of 
your  operations  in  '64  and  '65  were  among  those  de 
stroyed.  Can  not  you  repeat  them,  and  send  me  copies 
of  such  letters,  orders,  etc.,  of  mine  (including  that  last 
letter,  to  which  you  refer) ,  and  particularly  give  me  your 
recollections  of  our  effective  strength  at  the  principal 
battles?  My  only  object  is  to  transmit,  if  possible,  the 
truth  to  posterity,  and  do  justice  to  our  brave 
soldiers." 

Here  is  another  letter  to  General  Early,  written  March 


220       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

1 6th,  containing  references  to  the  same  subject,  and  to 
two  letters  of  General  Early  which  had  been  published 
in  the  papers.  It  is  interesting,  also,  as  showing  his 
moderation  in  speaking  of  those  who  had  misrepresented 
his  words  and  acts : 

"My  Dear  General:  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you 
for  the  copies  of  my  letters,  forwarded  with  yours  of 
January  25th.  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  send  me 
reports  of  the  operations  of  your  commands  in  the  cam 
paign,  from  the  Wilderness  to  Richmond,  at  Lynchburg, 
in  the  Valley,  Maryland,  etc. ;  all  statistics  as  regards 
numbers,  destruction  of  private  property  by  the  Federal 
troops,  etc.,  I  should  like  to  have,  as  I  wish  my  memory 
strengthened  on  these  points.  It  will  be  difficult  to  get 
the  world  to  understand  the  odds  against  which  we 
fought,  and  the  destruction  or  loss  of  all  returns  of  the 
army  embarrass  me  very  much.  I  read  your  letter  from 
Havana  to  the  New  York  Times,  and  was  pleased  with  the 
temper  in  which  it  was  written.  I  have  since  received 
the  paper  containing  it,  published  in  the  City  of  Mexico, 
and  also  your  letter  in  reference  to  Mr.  Davis.  I  under 
stand  and  appreciate  the  motives  which  prompted  both 
letters,  and  think  they  will  be  of  service  in  the  way  you 
intended.  I  have  been  much  pained  to  see  the  attempts 
made  to  cast  odium  upon  Mr.  Davis,  but  do  not  think  they 
will  be  successful  with  the  reflecting  or  informed  portion 
of  the  country.  The  accusations  against  myself  I  have 
not  thought  proper  to  notice,  or  even  to  correct  mis 
representations  of  my  words  and  acts.  We  shall  have 
to  be  patient  and  suffer  for  awhile  at  least;  and  all  con 
troversy,  I  think,  will  only  serve  to  prolong  angry  and 
bitter  feeling,  and  postpone  the  period  when  reason  and 
charity  may  resume  their  sway.  At  present,  the  public 
mind  is  not  prepared  to  receive  the  truth.  The  feelings 
which  influenced  you  to  leave  the  country  were  natural, 
and,  I  presume,  were  uppermost  in  the  breasts  of  many. 
It  was  a  matter  which  each  one  had  to  decide  for  himself, 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR    221 

as  he  only  could  know  the  reasons  which  governed  him. 
I  was  particularly  anxious  on  your  account,  as  I  had  the 
same  apprehensions  to  which  you  refer.  I  am  truly 
glad  that  you  are  beyond  the  reach  of  annoyance,  and 
hope  you  may  be  able  to  employ  yourself  profitably 
and  usefully.  Mexico  is  a  beautiful  country,  fertile,  of 
vast  resources ;  and,  with  a  stable  government  and  virtu 
ous  population,  will  rise  to  greatness.  I  do  not  think 
that  your  letters  can  be  construed  by  your  former  asso 
ciates  as  reflecting  upon  them,  and  I  have  never  heard 
the  least  blame  cast  by  those  who  have  remained  upon 
those  who  thought  it  best  to  leave  the  country.  I  think  I 
stated  in  a  former  letter  the  reasons  which  governed  me, 
and  will  not  therefore  repeat  them.  I  hope,  in  time, 
peace  will  be  restored  to  the  country,  and  that  the  South 
may  enjoy  some  measure  of  prosperity.  I  fear,  however, 
much  suffering  is  still  in  store  for  her,  and  that  her  people 
must  be  prepared  to  exercise  fortitude  and  forbearance. 
I  must  beg  you  to  present  my  kind  regards  to  the  gentle 
men  with  you,  and,  with  my  best  wishes  for  yourself  and 
undiminished  esteem,  I  am, 

"Most  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE/' 

That  his  purpose  had  been  heard  of  in  the  outside 
world  is  evident  from  this  reply  to  a  publisher  in  Cin 
cinnati  : 

"NEAR  CARTERSVILLE,  Virginia,  August  26,  1865. 
"MR.  JOSEPH  TOPHAM, 

"Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

"  My  Dear  Sir:  I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  the 
i  yth  inst.,  in  reference  to  a  history  of  the  late  war  to  be 
written  by  myself.  I  cannot,  at  present,  undertake  such 
a  work,  but  am  endeavouring  to  collect  certain  material 
to  enable  me  to  write  a  history  of  the  campaigns  in 
Virginia.  Its  completion  is  uncertain,  and  dependent 
upon  so  many  contingencies  that  I  think  it  useless  to 


222       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

speak  of  arrangements  for  its   publication   at   present. 
Thanking  you  for  your  kind  proposition,  I  am, 
"Very  respectfully  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

There  were  a  great  many  letters  of  this  kind  from 
Northern  publishing  houses,  and  his  replies  were  all  of 
the  same  character.  His  failure  to  carry  out  this  much- 
cherished  wish  is  greatly  to  be  deplored.  How  much 
we  and  our  children  have  missed,  those  who  know  his 
truth  and  honesty  of  purpose,  his  manliness,  simplicity, 
and  charity,  can  best  tell. 

During  the  last  days  of  February  he  was  summoned 
to  Washington  to  appear  before  a  committee  of  Congress 
which  was  inquiring  into  the  conditions  of  things  in 
the  Southern  States,  with  a  view  to  passing  some  of  the 
so-called  reconstruction  measures.  His  testimony  was 
simple,  direct,  and  dignified,  and  is  well  worth  reading  by 
all  who  wish  to  hear  the  plain  truth.  It  was  his  first  ap 
pearance  in  any  city  save  Richmond  since  the  war,  and 
being  at  a  time  of  such  political  excitement,  his  visit  was 
an  occasion  of  absorbing  interest  to  the  crowds  then  in 
the  capital. 

When  in  Washington,  Amanda,  one  of  the  house- 
servants  at  Arlington,  called  on  him  but  failed  to  see 
him.  In  answer  to  a  letter  from  her,  my  father  replies 
as  follows: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  9,  1866. 
"AMANDA  PARKS. 

"  Amanda:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  2yth 
ult.,  and  regret  very  much  that  I  did  not  see  you  when  I 
was  in  Washington.  I  heard  on  returning  to  my  room, 
Sunday  night,  that  you  had  been  to  see  me;  and  I  was 
sorry  to  have  missed  you,  for  I  wished  to  learn  how  you 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR    223 

were,  and  how  all  the  people  from  Arlington  were  getting 
on  in  the  world.  My  interest  in  them  is  as  great  now  as 
it  ever  was,  and  I  sincerely  wish  for  their  happiness  and 
prosperity.  At  the  period  specified  in  Mr.  Custis's  will — 
five  years  from  the  time  of  his  death — I  caused  the  libera 
tion  of  all  the  people  at  Arlington,  as  well  as  those  at  the 
White  House  and  Romancoke,  to  be  recorded  in  the 
Hustings  Court  at  Richmond ;  and  letters  of  manumission 
to  be  given  to  those  with  whom  I  could  communicate 
who  desired  them.  In  consequence  of  the  war  which 
then  existed,  I  could  do  nothing  more  for  them.  I  do 
not  know  why  you  should  ask  if  I  am  angry  with  you.  I 
am  not  aware  of  your  having  done  anything  to  give  me 
offense,  and  I  hope  you  would  not  say  or  do  what  was 
wrong.  While  you  lived  at  Arlington  you  behaved 
very  well,  and  were  attentive  and  faithful  to  your  duties. 
I  hope  you  will  always  conduct  yourself  in  the  same 
manner.  Wishing  you  health,  happiness,  and  success  in 
life,  I  am  truly, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Shortly  after  his  return  to  Lexington,  he  writes  to  Mrs. 
Jefferson  Davis.  In  this  letter  he  expresses  such  noble 
sentiments,  and  is  so  moderate  and  sensible  in  his  views 
of  those  who  were  harassing  him  and  the  South,  that  all 
who  read  it  must  profit  thereby : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  23,  1866. 
"My  Dear  Mrs.  Davis:  Your  letter  of  the  i2th  inst. 
reached  Lexington  during  my  absence  at  Washington.  I 
have  never  seen  Mr.  Colfax's  speech,  and  am,  therefore, 
ignorant  of  the  statements  it  contained.  Had  it,  how 
ever,  come  under  my  notice,  I  doubt  whether  I  should  have 
thought  it  proper  to  reply.  /  have  thought,  from  the  time 
of  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  that  silence  and  patience  on 
the  part  of  the  South  was  the  true  course;  and  I  think  so 
still.  Controversy  of  all  kinds  will,  in  my  opinion,  only 
serve  to  continue  excitement  and  passion,  and  will  prevent 


224       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  public  mind  from  the  acknowledgment  and  accept 
ance  of  the  truth.  These  considerations  have  kept  me 
from  replying  to  accusations  made  against  myself,  and 
induced  me  to  recommend  the  same  to  others.  As 
regards  the  treatment  of  the  Andersonville  prisoners, 
to  which  you  allude,  I  know  nothing  and  can  say  nothing 
of  my  own  knowledge.  I  never  had  anything  to  do  with 
any  prisoners,  except  to  send  those  taken  on  the  fields, 
where  I  was  engaged,  to  the  Provost  Marshal  General  at 
Richmond.  I  have  felt  most  keenly  the  sufferings  and 
imprisonment  of  your  husband,  and  have  earnestly  con 
sulted  with  friends  as  to  any  possible  mode  of  affording 
him  relief  and  consolation.  He  enjoys  the  sympathy  and 
respect  of  all  good  men ;  and  if,  as  you  state,  his  trial  is 
now  near,  the  exhibition  of  the  whole  truth  in  his  case 
will,  I  trust,  prove  his  defense  and  justification.  With 
sincere  prayers  for  his  health  and  speedy  restoration  to 
liberty,  and  earnest  supplications  to  God  that  He  may 
take  you  and  yours  under  His  guidance  and  protection, 
I  am,  with  great  respect, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

In  further  illustration  of  these  views,  held  so  strongly 
by  him  and  practised  so  faithfully  throughout  his  life, 
the  following,  written  to  a  gentleman  in  Baltimore,  is 
given : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  April  13,  1866. 
"My  Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  5th  inst.,  inclosing  a 
slip  from  the  Baltimore  American,  has  been  received. 
The  same  statement  has  been  published  at  the  North 
for  several  years.  The  statement  is  not  true ;  but  I  have 
not  thought  proper  to  publish  a  contradiction,  being 
unwilling  to  be  drawn  into  a  newspaper  discussion, 
believing  that  those  who  know  me  would  not  credit  it 
and  those  who  do  not  would  care  nothing  about  it.  I 
cannot  now  depart  from  the  rule  I  have  followed.  It  is 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR    225 

so  easy  to  make  accusations  against  the  people  at  the 
South  upon  similar  testimony,  that  those  so  disposed, 
should  one  be  refuted,  will  immediately  create  another ; 
and  thus  you  would  be  led  into  endless  controversy.  I 
think  it  better  to  leave  their  correction  to  the  return 
of  reason  and  good  feeling. 

"Thanking  you  for  your  interest  in  my  behalf,  and 
begging  you  to  consider  my  letter  as  intended  only  for 
yourself,  I  am, 

"Most  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


In  this  connection  I  give  the  following  letter  thanking 
Mr.  Burr  for  a  copy  of  the  "Old  Guard"  which  he  had 
sent  him,  and  showing  also  what,  in  his  opinion,  the 
South  had  fought  for,  and  of  what  true  republicanism 
consists : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  5,  1866. 
"MR.  C.  CHAUNCEY  BURR. 

"  My  Dear  Sir:  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your 
letter  of  the  2,7 th  ult.,  and  for  the  number  of  the  'Old 
Guard'  which  you  kindly  sent  me.  I  am  glad  to  know 
that  the  intelligent  and  respectable  people  at  the  North 
are  true  and  conservative  in  their  opinions,  for  I  believe 
by  no  other  course  can  the  right  interests  of  the  country 
be  maintained.  All  that  the  South  has  ever  desired 
was  that  the  Union,  as  established  by  our  forefathers, 
should  be  preserved,  and  that  the  government  as  orig 
inally  organised  should  be  administered  in  purity  and 
truth.  If  such  is  the  desire  of  the  North,  there  can  be 
no  contention  between  the  two  sections,  and  all  true 
patriots  will  unite  in  advocating  that  policy  which  will 
soonest  restore  the  country  to  tranquillity  and  order, 
and  serve  to  perpetuate  true  republicanism.  Please 
accept  my  thanks  for  your  advocacy  of  right  and 


226       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

liberty   and   the    kind    sentiments   which    you    express 

toward  myself,  and  believe  me  to  be,  with  great  respect, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


An  interesting  view  of  my  father's  desire  to  keep 
himself  from  public  attention  is  shown  by  his  correspond 
ence  with  an  English  gentleman,  Mr.  Herbert  C.  Saunders. 
The  connected  interview  states  his  opinions  on  several 
points  which  are  valuable.  The  copy  of  these  papers 
was  kindly  furnished  me  by  Mr.  John  Lyle  Campbell,  the 
Proctor  of  Washington  and  Lee  University: 

"WASHINGTON  and  LEE  UNIVERSITY, 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  19,  1900. 
"CAPT.  ROBERT  E.  LEE, 

"West  Point,  Virginia. 

"Dear  Capt.  Lee:  I  inclose  the  copy  promised  you  of 
the  papers  found  in  General  Lee's  desk.  The  paper 
seems  to  have  had  his  careful  revision,  as  there  are  a  good 
many  passages  stricken  out  and  a  good  many  insertions 
in  what  seems  to  me  undoubtedly  to  be  his  handwriting; 
and  I  was  very  much  interested  in  the  changes  that  he 
made,  as  they  were  most  characteristic  of  him — toning 
everything  down,  striking  out  adjectives,  turning  phrases 
from  a  personal  to  a  general  character,  and  always  adding 
simplicity  and  force  to  the  original.  It  seems  to  me 
most  likely  that  he  was  at  first  disposed  to  allow  the 
publication,  but  declined  at  last,  on  August  22d,  the 
full  limit  of  time  indicated  in  Mr.  Saunders 's  letter.  I 
am  Yours  truly, 

"  (Diet.)  JNO.  L.  CAMPBELL." 

The  papers  of  which  the  following  are  copies  were 
found  in  General  Robert  E.  Lee's  desk  in  the  President's 
Office  at  Washington  and  Lee  University.  On  the 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR    227 

envelope  in  which  they  were  inclosed  was  the  following 
indorsement  in  General  Lee's  handwriting: 

"LONDON,  July  31,  1866. 

"Herbert  C.  Saunders  asks  permission  to  publish  his 
conversation  with  me.  August  22d — Refused." 

"  3  BOLTON  GARDENS,  SOUTH  KENSINGTON, 

"LONDON,  July  31,  1866. 

"My  Dear  General  Lee:  Presuming  on  the  acquaint 
ance  with  you  which  I  had  the  honour  and  pleasure  of 
making  last  November  at  Lexington,  while  travelling 
in  Virginia,  I  venture  now  to  write  to  you  under  these 
circumstances.  You  may  remember  that,  at  the  time  I 
presented  to  you  my  letter  of  introduction,  I  told  you 
that  two  other  Englishmen,  friends  of  mine,  who  had 
come  with  me  to  America,  were  then  making  a  tour 
through  Georgia,  the  Carolinas,  and  some  other  Southern 
States.  One  of  them,  Mr.  Kennaway,  was  so  much 
interested  with  all  he  saw,  and  the  people  at  home  have 
appreciated  his  letters  descriptive  of  it  so  well,  that  he  is 
intending  to  publish  a  short  account  of  his  visit.  Not 
having,  however,  had  an  introduction  to  yourself,  he  is 
anxious  to  avail  himself  of  the  somewhat  full  accounts  I 
wrote  home  at  the  time,  descriptive  of  my  most  interesting 
interview  with  you,  and,  with  this  view,  he  has  asked  me 
to  put  into  the  shape  of  a  letter  all  those  more  prominent 
points  which  occur  to  me  as  gathered  from  my  letters 
and  my  recollection,  and  which  are  likely  to  interest  and 
instruct  the  English  public.  I  have,  after  some  hesitation, 
acceded  to  the  request — a  hesitation  caused  mainly  by 
the  fact  that  at  the  time  I  saw  you  I  neither  prepared  my 
notes  with  a  view  to  publication  nor  did  I  inform  you 
that  there  was  any  chance  of  what  you  told  me  being 
repeated.  I  may  add  that  I  never  until  a  month  or  two 
ago  had  the  slightest  thought  of  publishing  anything,  and, 
in  fact,  have  constantly  resisted  the  many  applications  by 
my  friends  that  I  should  let  my  letters  see  the  light.  My 


228       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

object  in  now  writing  to  you  is  to  know  whether  you  have 
any  objection  to  my  giving  my  friend  the  inclosed  short 
account  of  our  interview,  as  it  would,  I  am  convinced,  add 
greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  narrative.  If  you  have  no 
objection  to  this,  perhaps  you  would  kindly  correct  any 
statements  put  into  your  mouth  which  are  not  quite  accu 
rate,  or  expunge  anything  which  might  prejudice  you  with 
the  public  either  of  the  North  or  the  South,  if  unluckily 
anything  of  this  nature  should  have  crept  in.  My  letters 
were  written  a  day  or  two  after  the  conversation,  but 
you  had  so  much  of  interest  and  new  to  tell  me  that  I  do 
not  feel  sure  that  I  may  not  have  confused  names  of 
battles,  etc.,  in  some  instances.  It  will  be  necessary 
for  me  to  deliver  my  part  of  the  performance  early  in 
September  to  the  publishers,  and,  therefore,  I  should  feel 
much  obliged  by  your  sending  me  an  answer  at  your 
earliest  convenience.  There  will  be  a  mail  due  here  about 
the  first  of  that  month,  leaving  the  United  States  on 
Wednesday,  the  22d,  and  I  shall,  therefore,  wait  till 
its  arrival  before  sending  my  letter  to  Mr.  Kennaway ;  but 
should  I  not  hear  from  you  then  I  shall  consider  you  have 
no  objections  to  make  or  alterations  to  suggest,  and  act 
accordingly.  If  you  have  any  new  facts  which  you  think 
it  desirable  should  be  known  by  the  public,  it  will  give 
me  much  pleasure  to  be  the  medium  of  their  communi 
cation. 

"I  am  sure  I  need  scarcely  tell  you  with  what  keen 
interest  I  have  read  all  the  accounts  from  your  continent 
of  the  proceedings  in  Congress  and  elsewhere  in  connec 
tion  with  the  reconstruction  of  the  South.  I  do  sincerely 
trust  it  may  be  eventually  effected  in  a  way  satisfactory 
to  the  South,  and  I  most  deeply  deplore  the  steps  taken 
by  the  Radical  side  of  the  House  to  set  the  two  (North 
and  South)  by  the  ears  again.  President  Johnson's 
policy  seems  to  me  to  be  that  which,  if  pursued,  would 
be  most  likely  to  contribute  to  the  consolidation  of  the 
country ;  but  I  am  both  surprised  and  pained  to  find  how 
little  power  the  Executive  has  against  so  strong  a  faction 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR     229 

as  the  Radicals,  who,  while  they  claim  to  represent  the 
North,  do,  in  fact,  but  misrepresent  the  country.  I  am 
sure  you  will  believe  that  I  say  with  sincerity  that  I 
always  take  great  interest  in  anything  I  hear  said  or 
that  I  read  of  yourself,  and  I  am  happy  to  say  that,  even 
with  all  the  rancour  of  the  Northern  Radicals  against  the 
South,  it  is  little  they  find  of  ill  to  say  of  you. 

"  Hoping  you  will  not  think  I  am  doing  wrong  in  the 
course  I  propose  to  take,  and  that  your  answer  may  be 
satisfactory,  I  remain,  my  dear  General  Lee, 

"Yours  very  sincerely,      HERBERT  C.  SAUNDERS. 

"GENERAL  ROBERT  E.  LEE." 


"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  August  22,   1866. 
"  MR.  HERBERT  C.  SAUNDERS, 
"3  Bolt  on  Gardens, 

"  South  Kensington,  London,  England. 
"  My  Dear  Mr.  Saunders:  I  received  to-day  your 
letter  of  the  3ist  ult.  What  I  stated  to  you  in  conversa 
tion,  during  the  visit  which  you  did  me  the  honour  to  pay 
me  in  November  last,  was  entirely  for  your  own  in 
formation,  and  was  in  no  way  intended  for  publication. 
My  only  object  was  to  gratify  the  interest  which  you 
apparently  evinced  on  the  several  topics  which  were 
introduced,  and  to  point  to  facts  which  you  might 
investigate,  if  you  so  desired,  in  your  owrn  way.  I  have 
an  objection  to  the  publication  of  my  private  conversa 
tions,  which  are  never  intended  but  for  those  to  whom 
they  are  addressed.  I  cannot,  therefore,  without  an 
entire  disregard  of  the  rule  which  I  have  followed  in 
other  cases,  and  in  violation  of  my  own  sense  of  propriety, 
assent  to  what  you  propose.  I  hope,  therefore,  you  will 
excuse  me.  What  you  may  think  proper  to  publish  I 
hope  will  be  the  result  of  your  own  observations  and 
convictions,  and  not  on  my  authority.  In  the  hasty 
perusal  which  I  have  been  obliged  to  give  the  manuscript 
inclosed  to  me,  I  perceive  many  inaccuracies,  resulting 
as  much,  perhaps,  from  my  imperfect  narration  as  from 


2 30       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

misapprehension  on  your  part.  Though  fully  appreciating 
your  kind  wish  to  correct  certain  erroneous  statements 
as  regards  myself,  I  prefer  remaining  silent  to  doing 
anything  that  might  excite  angry  discussion  at  this  time, 
when  strong  efforts  are  being  made  by  conservative  men, 
North  and  South,  to  sustain  President  Johnson  in  his 
policy,  which,  I  think,  offers  the  only  means  of  healing 
the  lamentable  divisions  of  the  country,  and  which  the 
result  of  the  late  convention  at  Philadelphia  gives  great 
promise  of  doing.  Thanking  you  for  the  opportunity 
afforded  me  of  expressing  my  opinion  before  executing 
your  purpose,  I  am,  etc., 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


The  following  is  Mr.  Saunders'  account  of  the  interview : 

"  On  only  one  subject  would  he  talk  at  any  length  about 
his  own  conduct,  and  that  was  with  reference  to  the 
treatment  of  the  Federal  prisoners  who  had  fallen  into 
his  hands.  He  seemed  to  feel  deeply  the  backhanded 
stigma  cast  upon  him  by  his  having  been  included  by 
name  in  the  first  indictment  framed  against  Wirz,  though 
he  was  afterward  omitted  from  the  new  charges.  He 
explained  to  me  the  circumstances  under  which  he  had 
arranged  with  McClellan  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners; 
how  he  had,  after  the  battles  of  Manassas,  Fredericksburg, 
and  (I  think)  Chancellorsville,  sent  all  the  wounded  over 
to  the  enemy  on  the  engagement  of  their  generals  to  parole 
them.  He  also  told  me  that  on  several  occasions  his 
commissary  generals  had  come  to  him  after  a  battle  and 
represented  that  he  had  not  rations  enough  both  for 
prisoners  and  the  army  when  the  former  had  to  be  sent 
several  days'  march  to  their  place  of  confinement,  and  he 
had  always  given  orders  that  the  wants  of  the  prisoners 
should  be  first  attended  to,  as  from  their  position  they 
could  not  save  themselves  from  starvation  by  foraging 
or  otherwise,  as  the  •irmy  could  when  in  straits  for  pro 
visions.  The  General  also  explained  how  every  effort 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR    231 

had  always  been  made  by  the  Confederates  to  do  away 
with  the  necessity  of  retaining  prisoners  by  offering  every 
facility  for  exchange,  till  at  last,  when  all  exchange  was 
refused,  they  found  themselves  with  30,000  prisoners  for 
whom  they  were  quite  unable  to  do  as  much  as  they 
wished  in  the  way  of  food.  He  stated,  furthermore,  that 
many  of  their  hardships  arose  from  the  necessity  of 
constantly  changing  the  prisons  to  prevent  recapture. 
With  the  management  of  the  prisons  he  assured  me  he 
had  no  more  to  do  than  I  had,  and  did  not  even  know 
that  Wirz  was  in  charge  of  Andersonville  prison  (at  least, 
I  think  he  asserted  this)  till  after  the  war  was  over.  I 
could  quite  sympathise  with  him  in  his  feeling  of  pain 
under  which  his  generous  nature  evidently  suffered  that 
the  authorities  at  Washington  should  have  included  him 
and  others  similarly  circumstanced  in  this  charge  of 
cruelty  at  the  time  that  letters  written  by  himself  (General 
Lee),  taken  in  Richmond  when  captured,  complaining 
that  the  troops  in  his  army  had  actually  been  for  days 
together  on  several  occasions  without  an  ounce  of  meat, 
were  in  possession  of  the  military  authorities. 

"  When  discussing  the  state  of  feeling  in  England  with 
regard  to  the  war,  he  assured  me  that  it  had  all  along  given 
him  the  greatest  pleasure  to  feel  that  the  Southern  cause 
had  the  sympathies  of  so  many  in  the  '  old  country, '  to 
which  he  looked  as  a  second  home;  but,  in  answer  to  my 
questions,  he  replied  that  he  had  never  expected  us  to 
give  them  material  aid,  and  added  that  he  thought  all 
governments  were  right  in  studying  only  the  interests 
of  their  own  people  and  in  not  going  to  war  for  an  '  idea ' 
when  they  had  no  distinct  cause  of  quarrel. 

"  On  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  assured  me  that  he  had 
always  been  in  favour  of  the  emancipation  of  the  negroes, 
and  that  in  Virginia  the  feeling  had  been  strongly  in 
clining  in  the  same  direction,  till  the  ill-judged  enthusiasm 
(amounting  to  rancour)  of  the  abolitionists  in  the  North 
had  turned  the  Southern  tide  of  feeling  in  the  other 
direction.  In  Virginia,  about  thirty  years  ago,  an 


232       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

ordinance  for  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves  had  been 
rejected  by  only  a  small  majority,  and  every  one  fully 
expected  at  the  next  convention  it  would  have  been 
carried,  but  for  the  above  cause.  He  went  on  to  say  that 
there  was  scarcely  a,  Virginian  now  who  was  not  glad 
that  the  subject  had  been  definitely  settled,  though  nearly 
all  regretted  that  they  had  not  been  wise  enough  to  do  it 
themselves  the  first  year  of  the  war.  Allusion  was 
made  by  him  to  a  conversation  he  had  with  a  distin 
guished  countryman  of  mine.  He  had  been  visiting  a 
large  slave  plantation  (Shirley)  on  the  James  River. 
The  Englishman  had  told  him  that  the  working  popula 
tion  were  better  cared  for  there  than  in  any  country  he 
had  ever  visited,  but  that  he  must  never  expect  an 
approval  of  the  institution  of  slavery  by  England,  or  aid 
from  her  in  any  cause  in  which  that  question  was  involved. 
Taking  these  facts  and  the  well-known  antipathy  of  the 
mass  of  the  English  to  the  institution  into  consideration, 
he  said  he  had  never  expected  help  from  England.  The 
people  '  at  the  South '  (as  the  expression  is) ,  in  the  main, 
though  scarcely  unanimously,  seem  to  hold  much  the 
same  language  as  General  Lee  with  reference  to  our 
neutrality,  and  to  be  much  less  bitter  than  Northerners 
generally — who,  I  must  confess,  in  my  own  opinion,  have 
much  less  cause  to  complain  of  our  interpretation  of  the 
laws  of  neutrality  than  the  South.  I  may  mention  here,  by 
way  of  parenthesis,  that  /  was,  on  two  separate  occasions 
(once  in  Washington  and  once  in  Lexington),  told  that 
there  were  many  people  in  the  country  who  wished  that 
General  Washington  had  never  lived  and  that  they  were 
still  subjects  of  Queen  Victoria ;  but  I  should  certainly  say 
as  a  rule  the  Americans  are  much  too  well  satisfied  with 
themselves  for  this  feeling  to  be  at  all  common.  General 
Lee,  in  the  course  of  this  to  me  most  interesting  evening's 
seance,  gave  me  many  details  of  the  war  too  long  to  put 
on  paper,  but,  with  reference  to  the  small  result  of  their 
numerous  victories,  accounted  for  it  in  this  way:  the 
force  which  the  Confederates  brought  to  bear  was  so 


LEE'S  OPINION  UPON  THE  LATE  WAR    233 

often  inferior  in  numbers  to  that  of  the  Yankees  that  the 
more  they  followed  up  the  victory  against  one  portion 
of  the  enemy's  line  the  more  did  they  lay  themselves  open 
to  being  surrounded  by  the  remainder  of  the  enemy.  He 
likened  the  operation  to  a  man  breasting  a  wave  of  the 
sea,  who,  as  rapidly  as  he  clears  a  way  before  him,  is 
enveloped  by  the  very  water  he  has  displaced.  He 
spoke  of  the  final  surrender  as  inevitable  owing  to  the 
superiority  in  numbers  of  the  enemy.  His  own  army 
had,  during  the  last  few  weeks,  suffered  materially  from 
defection  in  its  ranks,  and,  discouraged  by  failures  and 
worn  out  by  hardships,  had  at  the  time  of  the  surrender 
only  7,892  men  under  arms,  and  this  little  army  was 
almost  surrounded  by  one  of  100,000.  They  might,  the 
General  said  with  an  air  piteous  to  behold,  have  cut 
their  way  out  as  they  had  done  before,  but,  looking  upon 
the  struggle  as  hopeless,  I  was  not  surprised  to  hear  him 
say  that  he  thought  it  cruel  to  prolong  it.  In  two  other 
battles  he  named  (Sharpsburg  and  Chancellors ville,  I 
think  he  said),  the  Confederates  were  to  the  Federals  in 
point  of  numbers  as  35,000  to  120,000  and  as  45,000  to 
155,000  respectively,  so  that  the  mere  disparity  of 
numbers  was  not  sufficient  to  convince  him  of  the  neces 
sity  of  surrender;  but  feeling  that  his  own  army  was 
persuaded  of  the  ultimate  hopelessness  of  the  contest  as 
evidenced  by  their  defection,  he  took  the  course  of  sur 
rendering  his  army  in  lieu  of  reserving  it  for  utter  an 
nihilation. 

"Turning  to  the  political  bearing  of  the  important 
question  at  issue,  the  great  Southern  general  gave  me,  at 
some  length,  his  feelings  with  regard  to  the  abstract  right 
of  secession.  This  right,  he  told  me,  was  held  as  a  consti 
tutional  maxim  at  the  South.  As  to  its  exercise  at  the 
time  on  the  part  of  the  South,  he  was  distinctly  opposed, 
and  it  was  not  until  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation  for 
75,000  men  to  invade  the  South,  which  was  deemed 
clearly  unconstitutional,  that  Virginia  withdrew  from  the 
United  States. 


234       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"  We  discussed  a  variety  of  other  topics,  and,  at  eleven 
o'clock  when  I  rose  to  go,  he  begged  me  to  stay  on,  as  he 
found  the  nights  full  long.  His  son,  General  Custis  Lee, 
who  had  distinguished  himself  much  during  the  war,  but 
whom  I  had  not  the  good  fortune  of  meeting,  is  the  only 
one  of  his  family  at  present  with  him  at  Lexington,  where 
he  occupies  the  position  of  a  professor  in  the  Military 
Institute  of  Virginia.  This  college  had  250  cadets  in  it 
when  the  war  broke  out,  General  'Stonewall'  Jackson 
being  one  of  the  professors.  At  one  moment  in  the  war, 
when  the  Federals  were  advancing  steadily  up  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  these  youths  (from  16  to  22  years 
of  age)  were  marched  to  join  the  Confederate  Army,  and 
did  good  service.  In  one  battle  at  Newmarket,  of  which 
I  shall  have  occasion  to  speak  later  in  my  letters,  they 
distinguished  themselves  in  a  conspicuous  way  under  the 
leadership  of  Colonel  Shipp,  who  is  still  their  commandant. 
By  a  brilliant  charge,  they  contributed,  in  a  great  measure, 
to  turn  the  tide  of  affairs,  losing  nine  of  their  number 
killed  and  more  than  forty  wounded.  General  Hunter, 
on  a  subsequent  occasion,  when  occupying  Lexington 
with  a  body  of  Federal  troops,  quartered  his  men  in  the 
Military  Institute  for  several  days,  and,  on  leaving,  had 
the  building — a  very  handsome  and  extensive  one — fired 
in  numerous  places,  completely  destroying  all  but  the 
external  walls,  which  now  stand.  The  professors'  houses 
stood  in  detached  positions,  and  these,  too,  with  the 
house  of  Mr.  Letcher,  a  former  governor  of  the  State,  he 
also  burnt  to  the  ground.  The  Washington  College,  the 
presidency  of  which  General  Lee  now  holds,  they  also 
ransacked,  destroying  everything  it  contained,  and  were 
preparing  it  for  the  flames,  to  which  they  were  with 
difficulty  restrained  from  devoting  it  by  earnest  repre 
sentations  of  its  strictly  educational  nature/* 


CHAPTER  XIII 
FAMILY  AFFAIRS 

THE  GENERAL  WRITES  TO  HIS  SONS — TO  HIS  WIFE  AT 
ROCKBRIDGE  BATHS — HE  JOINS  HER  THERE  ABOUT 
ONCE  A  WEEK — DISTINGUISHED  AND  UNDISTINGUISHED 
CALLERS  AT  HIS  LEXINGTON  HOME — HE  ADVOCATES 
EARLY  HOURS — HIS  FONDNESS  FOR  ANIMALS 

I  HAD  before  this  time  gone  to  my  farm  in  King  William 
County  and  started  out  in  life  as  a  farmer.  As  there  was 
nothing  but  the  land  and  a  few  old  buildings  left,  for 
several  years  I  had  a  very  up-hill  time.  My  father 
encouraged,  advised  me,  and  gave  me  material  aid.  His 
letters  to  me  at  this  time  will  show  the  interest  he  took 
in  my  welfare.  In  one  written  March  16,  1866,  after 
advising  me  as  to  steps  to  be  taken  in  repairing  an  old 
mill  on  the  place,  he  writes : 

"  I  am  clear  for  your  doing  everything  to  improve  your 
property  and  make  it  remunerative  as  far  as  you  can. 
You  know  my  objection  to  incurring  debt.  I  cannot 
overcome  it.  ...  I  hope  you  will  overcome  your 
chills,  and  by  next  winter  you  must  patch  up  your  house, 
and  get  a  sweet  wife.  You  will  be  more  comfortable, 
and  not  so  lonesome.  Let  her  bring  a  cow  and  a  churn. 
That  will  be  all  you  will  want.  .  .  .  Give  my  love 
to  Fitzhugh.  I  wish  he  were  regularly  established.  He 
cannot  afford  to  be  idle.  He  will  be  miserable. " 

My  brother  Fitzhugh,  here  referred  to,  was  negotiating 
to  rent  his  farm,  the  White  House,  to  some  so-called 

.235 


236       RECOLLECTIONS  OP  GENERAL  LEE 

English  capitalists,  and  had  not  as  yet  established  him 
self.  In  another  letter  to  me,  of  May  26,  1866,  my  father 
says: 

".  .  .  I  will  state,  at  the  outset,  that  I  desire  you 
to  consider  Romancoke  with  its  appurtenances  your  own ; 
to  do  with  as  you  consider  most  to  your  interest ;  to  sell, 
farm,  or  let ;  subject,  however,  to  the  conditions  imposed 
by  your  grandfather's  will,  as  construed  by  the  decree  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  of  Virginia,  which  declares,  '  If  the 
legacies  are  not  paid  off  by  the  personal  property,  hires 
of  slaves,  rents,  and  sale  of  the  real  estate,  charged  with 
their  payment,  at  the  end  of  five  years,  the  portion  unpaid 
remains  a  charge  upon  the  White  House  and  Romancoke 
until  paid.  The  devisees  take  their  estates  cum  onere* 

"The  result  of  the  war  having  deprived  the  estates  of 
the  benefit  of  the  hire  of  the  slaves  and  the  sale  of  Smith's 
Island,  and  the  personal  property  having  all  been  swept 
off  by  the  Federal  armies,  there  is  nothing  left  but  the 
land  of  the  two  estates  named.  A  court  might  make 
some  deduction  from  the  amount  of  the  legacies  to  be  paid 
in  consideration  of  these  circumstances,  and  I  should 
think  it  would  be  fair  to  do  so.  But  of  that  I  cannot  say. 
Now,  with  this  understanding,  make  your  own  arrange 
ments  to  suit  yourself,  and  as  you  may  determine  most 
conducive  to  your  interests.  In  confirming  your  action, 
as  the  executor  of  your  grandfather,  I  must,  however,  take 
such  measures  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  out  the  pur 
pose  of  his  will.  ...  If  you  are  determined  to  hold 
the  estate,  I  think  you  ought  to  make  it  profitable.  As 
to  the  means  of  doing  so,  you  must  decide  for  yourself. 
I  am  unable  to  do  it  for  you,  and  might  lead  you  astray. 
Therefore,  while  always  willing  to  give  you  any  advice  in 
my  power,  in  whatever  you  do  you  must  feel  that  the 
whole  responsibility  rests  with  you.  ...  I  wish,  my 
dear  son,  I  could  be  of  some  advantage  to  you,  but  I  can 
only  give  you  my  love  and  earnest  prayers,  and  commit 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  237 

you  to  the  keeping  of  that  God  who  never  forgets  those 
who  serve  Him.     May  He  watch  over  and  preserve  you. 
"  Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

In  another  letter,  of  June  i3th,  after  telling  me  of  the 
visit  of  a  cousin  of  my  mother's  and  how  much  gratifica 
tion  it  was  to  have  her  with  them,  he  regrets  that  her  son> 
who  brought  his  mother  up  to  Lexington,  had  to  hurry 
home  on  account  of  having  left  his  wife  and  little  son : 

".  .  .  When  you  have  such  pleasing  spurs  in  your 
flanks,  I  hope  you  may  be  on  the  fair  road  to  prosperity. 
All  unite  in  love  to  you  and  Fitzhugh.  Ask  the  latter  if 
George  has  yet  found  a  horse  to  trade  with  the  gray.  We 
miss  him  very  much,*  and  want  to  see  you  as  badly.  You 
may  judge  how  poorly  we  are  off.  The  examination  has 
commenced  at  Washington  College.  Three  days  are  over 
successfully,  and  I  hope  to  finish  in  twelve  more, 
has  been  up  in  two  subjects,  and  not  got  thrown.  He  has 
two  more.  But,  in  the  meantime,  I  am  much  occupied, 
and  will  be  confined  all  day.  I  have  no  time  for  letters  of 
affection,  so  must  tell  you  good-bye. 

"Most  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

This  was  the  first  final  examination  at  Washington  Col 
lege  since  my  father  became  its  president.  He  worked 
very  hard,  and  was  kept  busy  attending  to  all  the  details 
and  the  putting  into  practice  of  several  new  methods  and 
systems  he  had  introduced. 

That  summer  he  took  my  mother  to  the  Rockbridge 
Baths,  about  eleven  miles  from  Lexington,  to  give  her  the 
benefit  of  the  waters,  which,  he  hoped,  might  give  her  some 
relief  from  the  continual  pain  she  suffered.  She  did  derive 

*  My  brother  had  recently  visited  Lexington. 


238       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

benefit,  but,  unfortunately,  had  a  fall  which  seriously 
impeded  the  improvement.  In  reply  to  a  note  from  my 
mother  telling  him  of  her  misfortune  and  asking  him  to 
send  her  some  medicines,  he  writes  the  following  note : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  August  10,  1866. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  On  receiving  your  note,  yesterday,  I 
had  only  time  to  get  the  arnica  and  send  it  by  the  stage. 
I  am  very  sorry  that  you  received  such  a  fall,  and  fear  it 
must  have  been  a  heavy  shock  to  you.  I  am,  however, 
very  thankful  that  you  escaped  greater  injury,  and  hope 
it  is  no  worse  than  you  describe.  I  will  endeavour  to  get 
down  to  see  you  to-morrow  evening,  and  trust  I  may  find 
you  somewhat  relieved  from  its  effects.  We  are  pretty 
well  here.  Many  people  are  out  of  town,  and  I  have  not 
seen  those  who  are  in.  Love  to  the  girls. 

"Truly  and  affectionately  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 

My  father  was  still  very  busy  with  his  college  work, 
and,  after  establishing  her  there,  spent  most  of  the  time 
in  Lexington,  riding  Traveller  over  to  see  her  whenever 
he  could  get  a  spare  day.  Among  the  few  letters  pre 
served  of  those  written  to  her  at  this  time,  I  have  a  note 
of  July  1 6th: 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  am  glad  to  see  by  your  letter  of  yes 
terday  that  you  are  recovering  so  well  from  your  fall.  I 
hope  you  may  soon  be  well  again.  .  .  .  Caroline*  got 
back  this  morning.  Left  her  daughter  better.  Says  there 
is  a  very  good  girl  in  Lynchburg,  from  General  Cocke's 
estate,  anxious  to  live  with  us.  I  shall  have  more  conversa 
tion  with  her  [Caroline],  and,  if  satisfied,  will  write  for  her, 
by  the  boat  to-night.  Her  father  is  in  Lynchburg,  and 
anxious  for  her  to  come.  .  .  .  Tell  Mrs.  Cabell  I  am 

*  The  cook. 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  239 

sorry  to  have  missed  seeing  her.  Where  is  Katie  ?  I  wish 
she  would  send  her  to  see  me.  I  will  endeavour  to  find 
some  one  to  carry  this  to  you.  Love  to  all. 

"  Very  affectionately  and  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  mails  in  those  days  were  not  very  direct,  and  pri 
vate  messenger  was  often  the  surest  and  speediest  method 
of  letter-carriage.  In  the  absence  of  my  mother,  my 
father  was  trying  to  better  the  staff  of  servants.  Their 
inefficiency  was  the  drawback  to  our  comfort  then,  as  it 
is  now.  Often  the  recommendation  of  some  was  only  the 
name  of  the  estate  from  which  they  came.  A  few  days 
later,  my  father  writes  again : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  July  20,  1866. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  was  glad  to  receive  your  note  this 
morning,  and  wish  it  could  have  reported  a  marked 
improvement  in  your  health.  But  that,  I  trust,  will  come 
in  time.  It  has  been  impossible  for  me  to  return  to  you 
this  week,  and,  indeed,  I  do  not  see  how  I  can  absent 
myself  at  all.  I  shall  endeavour  to  go  to  the  Baths  Mon 
day,  and  hope  during  the  week  you  may  be  able  to  deter 
mine  whether  it  would  be  more  advantageous  for  you  to 
remain  there  or  go  further,  as  I  shall  have  to  return  here 
as  soon  as  I  can.  I  can  accomplish  nothing  while  absent. 
Custis  has  determined  to  accompany  Mr.  Harris  to  the 
White  Sulphur  Monday,  and  the  girls  seem  indifferent 
about  leaving  home.  They  ask,  properly,  what  is  to 
become  of  it  ?  Mr.  Pierre  Chouteau,  son  of  Julia  Gratiot 
and  Charles  Chouteau,  will  hand  you  this.  He  will 
remain  over  Sunday  at  the  Baths,  and  can  tell  you  all 
about  St.  Louis.  I  send  such  letters  as  have  come  for 
you.  I  have  no  news.  The  heat  seems  to  extend  every 
where,  but  it  will  be  cool  enough  after  a  time.  We  are 
as  usual,  except  that  'Aunt '  Caroline*  seems  more  over- 

*  The  cook. 


240       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

come,  and  Harriet*  indulges  in  lighter  attire.  I  fear  Mrs. 
Myers  had  an  awful  time.  The  Elliotts  do  not  seem  in 
haste  to  leave  town.  They  are  waiting  for  a  cool  day  to 
go  to  the  Natural  Bridge,  and  do  not  seem  to  have  decided 
whether  to  go  to  the  Baths  or  Alum  Springs.  We  had  an 
arrival  last  night  from  the  latter  place — General  Colquit 
and  daughters.  They  return  to-morrow.  The  girls  will 
write  of  domestic  matters.  I  received  a  letter  from  Rob 
at  Romancoke.  He  is  still  taking  cholagogue,  but  well. 
Nothing  of  interest  has  occurred. 

"Affectionately  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Cholagogue  was  a  fever-and-ague  remedy  of  which  I 
partook  largely  at  that  time.  After  this  letter,  my  sisters 
joined  my  mother  at  the  Baths,  my  father  still  spending 
most  of  his  time  in  Lexington,  but  riding  over  to  see  them 
whenever  he  could.  He  was  very  busy  repairing  some  of 
the  old  buildings  of  the  college  and  arranging  his  work  for 
the  next  session.  Here  is  another  short  note  to  my 
mother  : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  August  2,  1866. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  Mr.  Campbell  has  just  informed  me 
that  Cousins  George  and  Eleanor  Goldsborough  are  with 
you.  Tell  them  they  must  not  go  till  I  can  get  to  the 
Baths.  I  think  the  waters  of  the  latter  will  do  them  as 
much  good  as  anything  they  can  try,  and  the  sight  of  them 
will  do  me  great  benefit.  I  find  here  much  to  do,  but  will 
endeavour  to  be  with  you  to-morrow  evening  or  Saturday 
morning.  Custis  has  just  come,  but  finding  me  occupied 
with  builders,  shook  hands,  got  his  dinner,  and  left  for  the 
Institute.  So  I  do  not  know  where  he  is  from  or  where 
he  will  go  next.  Our  neighbours  are  generally  well,  and 
inquire  for  you.  Colonel  Reid  better.  Tell  the  girls,  if  I 
find  them  improving,  I  will  bring  them  something. 

*  The  maid. 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  241 

Remember  me  to  Cousins  George  and  Eleanor  and  all  the 
ladies.  I  have  about  a  bushel  of  letters  to  answer  and 
other  things  to  do. 

"Very  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

On  one  of  his  visits  to  my  mother,  he  took  advantage 
of  the  comparative  quiet  and  rest  there  and  wrote  me  a 
long  letter,  which  I  give  here  in  full : 

"ROCKBRIDGE  BATHS,  July  28,  1866. 
"  My  Dear  Robert:  I  was  very  glad  to  see  from  your  let 
ter  of  the  2d  the  progress  you  are  making  in  your  farm. 
I  hope  things  may  move  prosperously  with  you,  but  you 
must  not  expect  this  result  without  corresponding  atten 
tion  and  labour.  I  should  like  very  much  to  visit  you, 
but  it  will  be  impossible.  I  have  little  time  for  anything 
but  my  business.  I  am  here  with  your  mother,  waiting 
to  see  the  effects  of  these  waters  upon  her  disease,  before 
proceeding  to  the  Warm  Springs.  She  is  pleased  with  the 
bath,  which  she  finds  very  agreeable,  and  it  has  reduced 
the  swelling  in  her  feet  and  ankles,  from  which  she  has 
been  suffering  for  a  long  time,  and,  in  fact,  from  her 
account,  entirely  removed  it.  This  is  a  great  relief  in 
itself,  and,  I  hope,  may  be  followed  by  greater.  I  do  not 
think  she  moves  with  more  facility,  though  I  think  she 
walks  [on  her  crutches]  oftener  and  longer  than  here 
tofore,  and  probably  with  more  confidence.  She  has  been 
here  too  short  a  time  to  pronounce  positively  as  to  the 
effects  of  the  water,  and  will  have  to  remain  three  or  four 
weeks  before  we  determine  whether  she  will  go  further.  I 
am  unwilling  for  her  to  lose  the  whole  summer  here  unless 
it  promises  some  advantage,  and,  after  the  middle  of  next 
week,  unless  some  marked  change  takes  place,  shall  take 
her  to  the  Warm  Springs.  Custis  has  gone  to  the  White 
Sulphur,  but  expects  to  be  in  Richmond  on  August  6th 
to  meet  Fitzhugh,  with  the  view  of  going  to  the  Warrenton 
White  Sulphur  Springs  in  North  Carolina,  to  witness  the 


242       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

erection  of  a  monument  over  dear  Annie,  which  the  kind 
people  of  that  country  have  prepared  for  the  purpose. 
My  attendance  on  your  mother,  which  is  necessary,  pre 
vents  my  being  present.  Agnes  and  Mildred  are  here. 
I  think  the  baths  have  been  beneficial  to  them  already, 
though  they  have  not  been  here  a  week.  I  will  leave 
them  to  describe  the  place  and  visitors.  I  applied  the 
dressing  of  salt  to  the  old  meadow  at  Arlington  with  the 
view  of  renovating  the  grass.  I  believe  it  is  equally  good 
for  corn.  It  was  refuse  salt — Liverpool — which  I  bought 
cheaply  in  Alexandria  from  the  sacks  having  decayed  and 
broken,  but  I  cannot  recollect  exactly  how  much  I  applied 
to  the  acre.  I  think  it  was  about  two  or  three  bushels  to 
the  acre.  You  had  better  consult  some  work  on  farming 
as  to  the  quantity.  I  would  advise  you  to  apply  manure 
of  some  kind  to  all  your  land.  I  believe  there  is  nothing 
better  or  cheaper  for  you  to  begin  with  than  shell  lime.  I 
would  prefer  cultivating  less  land  manured  in  some  way 
than  a  large  amount  unassisted.  We  are  always  delighted 
to  hear  from  you,  and  I  trust  with  care  you  may  escape 
the  chills.  The  incentives  I  spoke  of  were  a  sweet  wife 
and  child.  God  bless  you,  my  dear  son. 
"Most  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

My  mother  continued  to  improve  so  much  that  she 
did  not  go  that  summer  to  the  Warm  Springs.  My 
father  spent  most  of  his  time  in  Lexington,  but  rode  over 
to  the  Baths  about  once  a  week.  There  was  nothing  he 
enjoyed  more  than  a  good  long  ride  on  Traveller.  It 
rested  him  from  the  cares  and  worries  incident  to  his 
duties,  and  gave  him  renewed  energy  for  his  work.  He 
was  often  seen  that  summer  along  the  eleven  miles  of 
mountain  road  between  Lexington  and  the  Baths.  He 
made  himself  acquainted  with  the  people  living  near  it, 
talked  to  them  about  their  affairs,  encouraged  and 
advised  them,  and  always  had  a  cheery  greeting  and  a 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  243 

pleasant  word  for  them.  The  little  children  along  his 
route  soon  became  acquainted  with  the  gray  horse  and 
his  stately  rider.  College  reopened  the  last  of  September, 
and  by  October  he  had  his  wife  and  daughters  with  him 
again.  He  writes  to  me  on  October  i8th,  trying  to  help 
me  in  my  agricultural  perplexities: 


" .  .  .  Am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  well  and  pro 
gressing  favourably.  Your  Uncle  Smith  says,  in  a  letter 
just  received  in  which  he  writes  of  his  difficulties  and 
drawbacks,  '  I  must  tell  you  that  if  you  desire  to  succeed 
in  any  matter  relating  to  agriculture  you  must  personally 
superintend  and  see  to  everything.'  Perhaps  your 
experience  coincides  with  his. 

"  I  hope  your  wheat  will  reimburse  you  for  your  labour 
and  guano.  I  think  you  are  right  in  improving  your 
land.  You  will  gain  by  cultivating  less  and  cultivating 
that  well,  and  I  would  endeavour  to  manure  every  crop — 
as  to  the  kind  of  manure  which  will  be  the  most  profitable, 
you  must  experiment.  Lime  acts  finely  on  your  land, 
and  is  more  lasting  than  guano.  If  you  can,  get  shells 
to  burn  on  your  land,  or,  if  not,  shell  lime  from  Baltimore. 
I  think  you  would  thereby  more  certainly  and  more 
cheaply  restore  your  fields.  I  hope  your  sale  of  ship- 
timber  may  place  you  in  funds  to  make  your  experiments. 
You  will  have  to  attend  to  your  contractors.  They  will 
generally  bear  great  attention,  and  then  circumvent  you. 
.  .  I  hope  I  shall  see  you  this  winter,  when  we  can 
talk  over  the  matter.  We  are  pretty  well.  Your 
mother  is  better  by  her  visit  to  the  Baths.  Mildred 
talks  of  going  to  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland  next 
month,  and  I  fear  will  be  absent  from  us  all  winter.  I 
must  refer  you  to  your  sisters  for  all  news.  They  are 
great  letter-writers,  and  their  correspondence  extends 
over  the  globe.  Miss  Etta  Seldon  is  with  us.  All  our 
summer  visitors  have  gone,  and  some  who,  I  hoped, 


244       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

would  have  visited  us  have  not  come.     .     .     .      Good 
bye,  my  dear  son.     God  bless  you.     .     .     . 
"Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

" ROBERT  E.  LEE,  JR." 

My  uncle,  Smith  Lee,  was  farming  on  the  Potomac, 
and  was  constantly  sending  me  messages  of  condolence 
through  my  father.  Our  experiences  were  the  same  as 
all  others  starting  to  farm  under  the  new  order  of  things. 
My  father  was  very  hospitable,  and  it  delighted  him  to 
have  his  relatives  and  friends  come  to  see  him.  So 
many  kindnesses  had  been  shown  to  himself  and  family 
for  the  last  five  years  that  he  greatly  enjoyed  this,  his 
first  opportunity  of  greeting  in  his  own  home  those  who 
had  so  often  offered  my  mother  and  sisters  the  shelter  of 
theirs.  The  country  around  Lexington  was  most  beau 
tiful,  and  the  climate  in  the  summer  and  autumn  all  that 
could  be  desired.  So,  at  those  seasons,  whenever  he  was 
at  home,  there  was  generally  some  one  visiting  him, 
nearly  always  relatives  or  old  and  dear  friends.  He  en 
tertained  very  simply,  made  every  one  feel  at  home,  and 
was  always  considerate  and  careful  of  the  amusement 
and  welfare  of  his  guests. 

People  came  from  all  over  the  world  to  Lexington  to 
see  him.  Amongst  the  visitors  from  afar  were  the 
Marquis  of  Lome  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Cooper,  who  were  on 
a  tour  through  the  United  States.  They  came  to  Lex 
ington  to  see  General  Lee.  When  they  called  at  the 
house  there  happened  to  be  no  servant  at  hand,  and  my 
father,  meeting  them  at  the  door,  received  their  cards. 
Not  having  on  his  glasses,  he  could  not  read  the  names, 
but  ushered  the  strangers  into  the  parlour,  and  presented 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  245 

them  to  Mrs.  Lee,  without  calling  their  names.  My 
mother  thought  the  tall,  slender  youth  was  a  new  student, 
and  entered  into  conversation  with  him  as  such.  Struck 
by  his  delicate  appearance,  she  cautioned  him  against 
the  harsh  winter  climate  of  the  mountains,  and  urged 
him  to  be  careful  of  his  health.  On  this,  Mr.  Cooper 
explained  who  his  compainon  was,  and  there  was  much 
amusement  over  the  mistake. 

The  professors  and  students  of  the  two  institutions  of 
learning  were  constant  visitors,  especially  in  the  evenings, 
when  young  men  came  to  see  the  girls.  If  his  daughters 
had  guests,  my  father  usually  sat  with  my  mother 
in  the  dining-room  adjoining  the  drawing-room.  When 
the  clock  struck  ten  he  would  rise  and  close  the  shutters 
carefully  and  slowly,  and,  if  that  hint  was  not  taken,  he 
would  simply  say  "Good  night,  young  gentlemen." 
The  effect  was  immediate  and  lasting,  and  his  wishes  in 
that  matter,  finally  becoming  generally  known,  were 
always  respected.  Captain  W.,  who  had  very  soon  found 
out  the  General's  views  as  to  the  time  of  leaving,  was 
told  on  one  occasion  that  General  Lee  had  praised  him 
very  much. 

"  Do  you  know  why  ? "  said  the  Captain.  "  It  is  because 
I  have  never  been  caught  in  the  parlour  at  ten  o'clock. 
I  came  very  near  it  last  night,  but  got  out  into  the  porch 
before  the  General  shut  the  first  blind.  That's  the  reason 
he  calls  me  '  a  fine  young  man. ' ' 

A  young  friend  who  was  a  cadet  at  the  Virginia  Mili 
tary  Institute  called  on  my  sisters  one  evening,  and 
remarked,  just  for  something  to  say: 

"  Do  you  know  this  is  the  first  civilian's  house  I  have 
entered  in  Lexington." 

My  father  was  in  the  room  in  his  gray  Confederate 


246       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

coat,  shorn  of  the  buttons;  also  my  two  brothers,  Custis 
and  Fitzhugh,  both  of  whom  had  been  generals  in  the 
Confederate  Army;  so  there  was  quite  a  laugh  over  the 
term  civilian.  I  have  already  mentioned  how  particular 
my  father  was  about  answering  all  letters.  It  was  a 
great  tax  on  his  time,  and  some  of  them  must  have  been 
a  trial  to  his  temper.  The  following  will  explain  itself : 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,   September  5,   1866. 
"A.  J.  REQUIER, 

"81  Cedar  St.,  New  York. 

"  My  Dear  Sir:  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your 
kind  letter  of  the  22d  ult.  So  many  articles  formerly  be 
longing  to  me  are  scattered  over  the  country  that  I  fear 
I  have  not  time  to  devote  to  their  recovery.  I  know  no 
one  in  Buffalo  whom  I  could  ask  to  reclaim  the  Bible  in 
question.  If  the  lady  who  has  it  will  use  it,  as  I  hope  she 
will,  she  will  herself  seek  to  restore  it  to  the  rightful 
owner.  I  will,  therefore,  leave  the  decision  of  the  question 
to  her  and  her  conscience.  I  have  read  with  great 
pleasure  the  poem  you  sent  me,  and  thank  you  sincerely 
for  your  interest  in  my  behalf.  With  great  respect, 
"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Here  is  another  one  of  many  of  a  similar  character: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  September  26,  1866. 
"MR.  E.  A.  POLLARD, 

"104  West  Baltimore  St., 

"Baltimore,  Md. 

"Dear  Sir:  I  return  you  my  thanks  for  the  compli 
ment  paid  me  by  your  proposition  to  write  a  history  of 
my  life.  It  is  a  hazardous  undertaking  to  publish  the 
life  of  any  one  while  living,  and  there  are  but  few  who 
would  desire  to  read  a  true  history  of  themselves.  In 
dependently  of  the  few  national  events  with  which  mine 
has  been  connected,  it  presents  little  to  interest  the  general 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  247 

reader,  nor  do  I  know  where  to  refer  you  for  the  necessary 
materials.  All  my  private,  as  well  as  public,  records  have 
been  destroyed  or  lost,  except  what  is  to  be  found  in 
published  documents,  and  I  know  of  nothing  available  for 
the  purpose.  Should  you,  therefore,  determine  to  under 
take  the  work,  you  must  rely  upon  yourself,  as  my  time 
is  so  fully  occupied  that  I  am  unable  to  promise  you  any 
assistance. 

"Very   respectfully, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

This  autumn  my  sister  Mildred  paid  a  visit  to  our 
cousins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Goldsborough,  living  at 
"Ashby,"  near  Easton,  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Mary 
land.  She  remained  away  there  and  elsewhere  for 
several  months.  My  father's  letters  to  her,  many  of 
which  have  been  preserved,  are  most  interesting.  They 
show  very  plainly  many  beautiful  phases  of  his  noble 
character  and  disposition: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  December  21,  1866. 
"My  Precious  Life:  I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your 
letter  of  the  i5th  inst.,  and  to  learn  that  you  were  well 
and  happy.  May  you  be  always  as  much  so  as  is  con 
sistent  with  your  welfare  here  and  hereafter,  is  my  daily 
prayer.  I  was  much  pleased,  too,  that,  while  enjoyin'g 
the  kindness  of  your  friends,  we  were  not  forgotten. 
Experience  will  teach  you  that,  notwithstanding  all 
appearances  to  the  contrary,  you  will  never  receive 
such  a  love  as  is  felt  for  you  by  your  father  and  mother. 
That  lives  through  absence,  difficulties,  and  time,.  Your 
own  feelings  will  teach  you  how  it  should  be  returned 
and  appreciated.  I  want  to  see  you  very  much,  and  miss 
you  at  every  turn,  yet  am  glad  of  this  opportunity  for  you 
to  be  with  those  who,  I  know,  will  do  all  in  their  power 
to  give  you  pleasure.  I  hope  you  will  also  find  time  to 
read  and  improve  your  mind.  Read  history,  works  of 


248       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

truth,  not  novels  and  romances.  Get  correct  views  of 
life,  and  learn  to  see  the  world  in  its  true  light.  It  will 
enable  you  to  live  pleasantly,  to  do  good,  and,  when 
summoned  away,  to  leave  without  regret.  Your  friends 
here  inquire  constantly  after  you,  and  wish  for  your 
return.  Mrs.  White  and  Mrs.  McElwee  particularly 
regret  your  absence,  and  the  former  sends  especial  thanks 
for  your  letter  of  remembrance.  We  get  on  in  our  usual 
way.  Agnes  takes  good  care  of  us,  and  is  very  thoughtful 
and  attentive.  She  has  not  great  velocity,  but  is  sys 
tematic  and  quiet.  After  to-day,  the  mornings  will 
begin  to  lengthen  a  little,  and  her  trials  to  lessen.  It  is 
very  cold,  the  ground  is  covered  with  six  inches  of  snow, 
and  the  mountains,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach  in  every 
direction,  elevate  their  white  crests  as  monuments  of 
winter.  This  is  the  night  for  the  supper  for  the  repairs 
to  the  Episcopal  church.  Your  mother  and  sisters  are 
busy  with  their  contributions.  It  is  to  take  place  at  the 
hotel,  and  your  brother,  cousins,  and  father  are  to  attend. 
On  Monday  night  (24th),  the  supper  for  the  Presbyterian 
church  is  to  be  held  at  their  lecture-room.  They  are  to 
have  music  and  every  attraction.  I  hope  both  may  be 
productive  of  good.  But  you  know  the  Episcopalians 
are  few  in  numbers  and  light  in  purse,  and  must  be 
resigned  to  small  returns.  ...  I  must  leave  to  your 
sisters  a  description  of  these  feasts,  and  also  an  account 
of  the  operation  of  the  Reading  Club.  As  far  as  I  can 
judge,  it  is  a  great  institution  for  the  discussion  of  apples 
and  chestnuts,  but  is  quite  innocent  of  the  pleasures  of 
literature.  It,  however,  brings  the  young  people  to 
gether,  and  promotes  sociability  and  conversation.  Our 
feline  companions  are  flourishing.  Young  Baxter  is 
growing  in  gracefulness  and  favour,  and  gives  cat-like 
evidences  of  future  worth.  He  possesses  the  fashionable 
colour  of  'moonlight  on  the  water,'  apparently  a  dingy 
hue  of  the  kitchen,  and  is  strictly  aristocratic  in  appear 
ance  and  conduct.  Tom,  surnamed  'The  Nipper,'  from 
the  manner  in  which  he  slaughters  our  enemies,  the  rats 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  249 

and  the  mice,  is  admired  for  his  gravity  and  sobriety,  as 
well  as  for  his  strict  attention  to  the  pursuits  of  his  race. 
They  both  feel  your  absence  sorely.  Traveller  and 
Custis  are  both  well,  and  pursue  their  usual  dignified  gait 
and  habits,  and  are  not  led  away  by  the  frivolous  enter 
tainments  of  lectures  and  concerts.  All  send  united  love, 
and  all  wish  for  your  return.  Remember  me  most  kindly 
to  Cousins  Eleanor  and  George,  John,  Mary,  Ida,  and  all  at 
'Myrtle  Grove,'  and  to  other  kind  friends  when  you  meet 
them.  Mrs.  Grady  carried  yesterday  to  Mr.  Charles  Kerr, 
in  Baltimore,  a  small  package  for  you.  Be  careful  of 
your  health,  and  do  not  eat  more  than  half  the  plum- 
puddings  Cousin  Eleanor  has  prepared  for  Xmas.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  that  you  are  fattening,  and  I  hope  you  will 
reach  125  Ibs.  Think  always  of  your  father,  who  loves 

you  dearly. 

"R.  E.  LEE. 

"P.  S.,  22d.— Rob  arrived  last  night  with  'Lucy 
Long/  He  thinks  it  too  bad  you  are  away.  He  has 
not  seen  you  for  two  years. 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

"  Baxter"  and  "Tom,  the  Nipper"  were  Mildred's  pets. 
All  of  us  had  a  fondness  for  cats,  inherited  from  my  mother 
and  her  father,  Mr.  Custis.  My  father  was  very  fond  of 
them  in  his  way  and  in  their  place,  and  was  kind  to  them 
and  considerate  of  their  feelings.  My  mother  told  of 
his  hearing  one  of  the  house-pets,  possibly  Baxter  or  the 
Nipper,  crying  and  lamenting  under  his  window  one 
stormy  night.  The  General  got  out  of  bed,  opened  the 
window,  and  called  pussy  to  come  in.  The  window  was 
so  high  that  the  animal  could  not  jump  up  to  it.  My 
father  then  stepped  softly  across  the  room,  took  one  of 
my  mother's  crutches,  and  held  it  so  far  out  of  the 
window  that  he  became  wet  from  the  falling  rain ;  but  he 
persuaded  the  cat  to  climb  up  along  the  crutch,  and  into 


2 5o       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  window,  before  he  thought  of  dry  clothing  for  him 
self.  "Lucy  Long"  was  my  father's  mare,  which  had 
been  lost  or  stolen  at  the  end  of  the  war,  and  which  I  had 
just  brought  back  to  him.  I  will  give  in  the  following 
letter  his  account  of  her : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  September  4,  1866. 
"  DR.  C.  S.  GARNETT. 

"  Dear  Sir:  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  letter 
of  the  23d  ult.  and  the  information  it  contained. 
The  mare  about  which  my  son  wrote  you  was  bred  by 
Mr.  Stephen  Dandridge,  of  '  The  Bower,'  Berkeley  County, 
Virginia,  and  was  purchased  from  him  for  me  by  General 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart  in  the  fall  of  1862— after  the  return  of  the 
army  from  Maryland.  She  is  nine  or  ten  years  old,  about 
fifteen  hands  high,  square  built,  sorrel  (not  chestnut) 
colour,  has  a  fast  walk,  easy  pace,  and  short  canter. 
When  I  parted  with  her  she  had  a  full  long  mane  and 
tail.  I  rode  her  in  conjunction  with  my  gray  horse  from 
the  fall  of  '62  to  the  spring  of  '64,  when  she  was  sent 
back  for  refreshment;  and  it  was  in  recalling  her  in  the 
spring  of  '65  from  Mr.  Hairston's,  in  Henry  County,  that 
she  got  into  Major  Paxton's  stables  of  public  horses  and 
went  to  Danville  with  them.  I  think  she  might  be 
recognised  by  any  member  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  in  Essex,  unless  much  changed.  I  now  recollect 
no  distinctive  marks  about  her  except  a  blaze  in  her 
forehead  and  white  hind-legs.  My  son,  General  W.  H.  F. 
Lee,  residing  at  the  White  House,  in  New  Kent,  might 
recognise  her,  and  also  my  son  Robert,  who  resides  near 
West  Point,  in  King  William.  Captain  Hopkins,  to 
whom  you  refer  in  your  letter,  is  dead,  but  Major  Paxton, 
who  had  general  charge  of  the  public  stables,  and  to  whom 
I  referred  your  letter,  has  sent  me  the  accompanying 
affidavits  of  two  of  the  men  employed  by  him.  Should 
their  evidence  not  be  satisfactory,  he  will  procure  state 
ments  from  some  of  the  officers,  which  probably  may  be 
more  definite.  I  should  be  obliged  to  you,  if  the  mare  in 


FAMILY  AFFAIRS  251 

question  is  the  one  I  am  seeking  for,  that  you  would  take 
steps  to  recover  her,  as  I  am  desirous  of  reclaiming  her  in 
consideration  of  the  donor,  General  Stuart. 

"  Your  obedient  servant,  R.  E.  LEE." 

It  was  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties  that  the 
mare  in  question  was  "Lucy  Long,"  and  my  father 
reimbursed  the  man  who  had  bought  her  from  some  one 
who  had  no  right  to  her.  She  was  brought  to  my  place 
and  I  recognised  her  at  once.  She  stayed  with  me  until 
I  was  ready  to  pay  my  Christmas  visit  to  Lexington.  She 
then  was  put  on  the  train  and  sent  to  Staunton,  where 
I  met  her.  I  found  there  Colonel  William  Allan,  a  pro 
fessor  of  Washington  College,  who  had  a  buggy  and  no 
horse,  and  as  I  had  a  horse  and  no  buggy,  we  joined 
forces  and  I  drove  him  over  to  Lexington,  "Lucy  Long" 
carrying  us  with  great  ease  to  herself  and  comfort  to  us. 
My  father  was  glad  to  get  her,  as  he  was  very  fond  of  her. 
When  he  heard  how  she  came  over,  he  was  really  shocked, 
as  he  thought  she  had  never  been  broken  to  harness. 
She  lived  to  be  thirty-three  years  old,  and  was  then 
chloroformed,  because  my  brother  thought  she  had 
ceased  to  enjoy  life.  For  the  last  ten  years  of  her  life 
she  was  boarded  out  in  the  country,  where  she  did  nothing 
but  rest,  and  until  about  a  year  before  her  death  she 
seemed  in  good  health  and  spirits. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
AN    IDEAL    FATHER 

LETTERS  TO  MILDRED  LEE — TO  ROBERT — TO  FITZHUGH — 
INTERVIEWED  BY  SWINTON,  HISTORIAN  OF  THE  ARMY 
OF  THE  POTOMAC — IMPROVEMENT  IN  GROUNDS  AND 
BUILDINGS  OF  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE — PUNCTUALITY 
A  PROMINENT  TRAIT  OF  ITS  PRESIDENT — A  STRONG 
SUPPORTER  OF  THE  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

MY  sister,  after  the  Christmas  holidays,  went  from 
"Ashby"  to  Baltimore,  Cousins  George  and  Eleanor 
Goldsborough  taking  her  with  them  to  their  town  house. 
I  think  my  father  always  wanted  his  daughters  with 
him.  When  they  were  away  he  missed  them,  their  love, 
care,  and  attention.  The  next  letter  I  find  is  to  Mildred, 
in  Baltimore: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  27,  1867. 
"  My  Precious  Daughter:  Your  letter  to  your  mother 
gave  us  the  satisfactory  information  of  your  continued 
good  health,  for  I  feared  that  your  long  silence  had  been 
caused  by  indisposition  of  body,  rather  than  that  due  to 
writing.  I  hope  you  will  not  let  so  long  an  interval 
between  your  letters  occur  again,  for  you  know  I  am 
always  longing  to  hear  from  you,  when  I  cannot  see  you, 
and  a  few  lines,  if  only  to  say  you  are  well,  will  prevent 
unpleasant  apprehensions.  I  am  delighted  at  your 
increased  bodily  dimensions,  and  your  diminished 
drapery.  One  hundred  and  twenty-eight  avoirdupois  is 
approximately  a  proper  standard.  Seven  more  pounds 

252 


AN   IDEAL  FATHER  253 

will  make  you  all  right.     But  I  fear  before  I  see  you  the 
unnatural  life,  which  I  fear  you  will  lead  in  Baltimore, 
will  reduce  you  to  skin  and  bone.     Do  not  go  out  to 
many  parties,  preserve  your  simple  tastes  and  manners, 
and    you    will    enjoy    more    pleasure.     Plainness    and 
simplicity  of  dress,  early  hours,  and  rational  amusements, 
I  wish  you  to  practise.     You  must  thank  Cousins  Eleanor 
and  George  for  all  their  kindness  to  you,  and  remember 
me  to  all  friends.     If  you  see  your  uncle  Marshall,  present 
my  kind  regards  to  him,  and  my  best  wishes  for  his  health 
and  happiness.     I  hope  you  will  see  Robert.     I  heard  that 
he  stayed  at  Mr.  Edward  Dallam's  when  in  Baltimore, 
but   do  not  know  whether  he  will  return  there  from 
Lynwood.     I  was  sorry  to  hear  that  you  lost  your  purse. 
Perhaps  the  finder  was  more  in  want  than  you  are,  and  it 
may  be  of  service  to  him,  and  you  can  do  without  it. 
A  little  money  is  sometimes  useful.     You  must  bear  in 
mind  that  it  will  not  be  becoming  in  a  Virginia  girl  now  to 
be  fine  or  fashionable,  and  that  gentility  as  well  as  self- 
respect  requires  moderation  in  dress  and  gaiety.     While 
her  people  are  suffering,  she  should  practise  self-denial 
and  show  her  sympathy  in  their  affliction.     We  are  all 
pretty  well.     Your  poor  mother  suffers  more  pain  than 
usual   during   this   inclement    weather.     Your   sister   is 
devoted  to  the  snow  and  ice,  and  Agnes  is  becoming  a 
very  good  housekeeper.     She  has  received  a  letter  from 
a  gentleman,  whose  judgment  she  respects,  recommending 
her  to  acquire  that  useful  knowledge,  and  assuring  her 
that  it  will  not  only  promote  domestic  happiness,  but  will 
add  greatly  to  connubial  bliss.     This  is  a  great  encourage 
ment  to  her.     Our  young  friends,  the  law  students  and 
cadets,  all  inquire  after  you  and  wish  for  your  return. 
Mrs.  McElwee  and  Mrs.  White  also  send  their  particular 
regards,  and  Colonel  Reid,  who  seems  to  be  failing  fast, 
sends  his  love,  and  hopes  that  you  will  soon  return.     You 
know  that  is  my  wish  and  hope,  so  whenever  you  are 
ready  to  return  you  will  know  that  I  am  waiting  to  receive 
you.     I  will  leave  your  mother  and  sisters  to  give  you  all 


254       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

domestic  news.  Tell  Annette  I  have  been  looking  for 
her  in  every  stage  since  her  letter  last  fall,  and  that  I  hope 
for  her  arrival  daily.  Nipper  is  well,  and  endeavours,  by 
stern  gravity,  to  repress  the  frivolity  of  Baxter.  All 
unite  in  much  love,  and  I  am,  as  ever, 

"  Your  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  MILDRED  LEE." 

Just  after  the  intermediate  examinations,  he  writes  to 
Mildred  again : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  16,  1867. 
"  My  Precious  Daughter:  I  have  wished  to  answer  your 
letter  of  the  26.  for  some  days,  but  have  not  been  able. 
The  intermediate  examinations  which  were  in  progress 
when  it  arrived  continued  ten  entire  days,  and  since 
their  termination  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  re 
sumption  of  studies,  and  the  reorganisation  of  the  classes, 
have  occupied  all  my  time  not  devoted  to  other  pressing 
matters.  The  students  generally  passed  very  creditable 
examinations.  Many  of  your  friends  were  distinguished. 
The  ordeal  through  which  the  higher  classes  passed  was 
as  severe  as  any  I  ever  witnessed.  Colonel  Johnston  * 
has  arrived  and  entered  upon  his  duties.  He  is  living 
at  the  hotel  with  his  wife  and  six  sweet  little  children, 
being  unable  to  procure  a  house,  and  the  college  being 
too  poor  to  build  one  for  him.  We  have  other  professors 
also  houseless.  Robert  has  returned  to  his  'broken- 
back  cottage,'  though  he  confesses  to  having  enjoyed 
great  pleasure  during  his  visit  to  Baltimore.  He  dwells 
with  delight  upon  his  intercourse  with  the  Misses  -  — , 
whom  he  considers  angels  upon  earth,  without  wings. 
His  account  of  them  increases  my  desire  to  get  them  to 
Virginia.  Miss  -  —  once  promised  me  to  have  Fitzhugh. 
Tell  her  I  will  release  her  from  her  engagement  if  she 

*William  Preston  Johnston,  the  son  of  General  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston,  who  fell  at  Shiloh.  He  had  recently  been  elected  to  the 
chair  of  History  and  Literature  at  Washington  College. 


AN   IDEAL  FATHER 


255 


will  take  Rob.  He  was  also  much  gratified  at  being  able 
to  spend  a  week  with  you,  and  I  am  getting  very  anxious 
for  your  return.  The  winter  has  passed,  the  snow  and 
ice  have  disappeared,  and  the  birds  have  returned  to 
their  favourite  resorts  in  the  yard.  We  have,  however, 
a  sea  of  mud  around  us,  through  which  we  have  to  plunge, 
but  I  hope  the  pleasant  air  and  sun  now  visiting  us  will 
soon  dissipate  it.  I  am  glad  you  are  enjoying  yourself 
among  such  kind  friends,  but  do  not  remain  too  long,  as 
you  may  detain  Cousins  Eleanor  and  George  from  the 
Eastern  Shore.  Markie  has  sent  me  a  likeness  of  you  on 
porcelain,  from  the  negative  taken  by  the  celebrated 
Flecker,  which  she  carried  with  her  to  Philadelphia.  It 
is  very  good,  but  I  prefer  the  original.  .  .  .  Every 
body  seems  anxious  for  your  return,  and  is  surprised  you 
can  stay  so  long  from  your  papa.  May  God  bless  and 
keep  you,  my  dear  child,  is  the  constant  prayer  of 

"  Your  devoted  father,  R.  E.  LEE." 

Before  Mildred  returned  to  Lexington  she  received 
one  more  letter  from  my  father,  in  which  he  advises  her 
of  the  two  routes  to  Lexington,  and  tells  her  some  college 
news: 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  23,  1867. 
"My  Precious  Daughter:  Agnes  wishes  you  to  pur 
chase  some  articles  for  her,  and  your  mother  and  sister 
may  have  some  commissions,  which  I  fear  will  reduce 
your  purse  to  an  inconvenient  collapse.  I  therefore  send 
a  check  for  -  -  dollars,  which  I  hope  will  enable  you  to 
gratify  their  wishes  and  serve  as  a  reserve  for  your  own 
wants.  I  hope  you  are  well  and  passing  your  time 
profitably  as  well  as  pleasantly.  The  cadets  are  under 
the  impression  that  you  are  at  the  Patapsco  Institute, 
and  will  expect  to  find  you,  on  your  return,  more  agreeable 
than  ever.  They  are  labouring  so  industriously  in  mental 
culture  that  they  believe  every  one  is  similarly  engaged. 
I  went  last  evening  to  the  celebration  of  the  anniversary 


256       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

of  the  Washington  Society,  and  was  much  pleased  with 
the  speeches.  It  was  held  in  the  Methodist  church, 
which  was  filled  to  overflowing.  The  Institute  and 
Ann  Smith  [Female  Academy]  were  represented.  Your 
sisters  were  present,  and  as  they  were  both  absent  from 
breakfast  this  morning  I  fear  so  much  learning  made 
them  sleepy.  They  were  also  at  a  cadet  hop  on  the  2ist, 
and  did  not  get  home  till  between  two  and  three  A.  M.  on 
the  22d.  I  suppose,  therefore,  they  had  'splendid 
times'  and  very  fresh  society.  We  were  somewhat 
surprised  the  other  morning  at  Mrs.  Grady's  committing 
matrimony.  I  missed,  at  our  chapel  exercises,  Captain 
Grady  and  our  acting  chaplain,  but  did  not  know  at  the 
time  what  prevented  their  attendance.  I  heard  after 
wards  that  they  had  put  the  happy  pair  in  the  stage  and 
sent  them  on  their  way  rejoicing.  She  is  now  Mrs. 
Richard  Norris,  and  has  gone  to  Baltimore.  It  will  be 
but  fair  now  that  Captain  Grady  should  go  to  Baltimore 
and  bring  us  a  young  lady  from  there  in  return  for  his 
mother.  If  you  see  Miss  Armistead,  ask  her  to  be  ready 
on  short  notice,  as  we  are  a  people  of  few  words  in  this 
region,  and  proceed  in  all  matters  in  a  businesslike  way. 
Agnes,  I  suppose,  has  told  you  of  all  matters  of  gaiety  and 
fashion.  She  has,  no  doubt,  too,  kept  you  advised  of 
the  progress  of  young  Baxter  and  of  the  deeds  of  '  Thomas, 
the  Nipper.'  They  are  both  flourishing,  and  are  much 
admired.  .  .  .  The  roads  are  so  muddy  that  my 
evening  rides  have  been  suspended,  and  I  see  nobody. 
.  You  must  write  me  when  to  expect  you.  The 
stage  from  Staunton  now  crosses  during  the  night,  and, 
when  the  roads  are  favourable,  arrives  about  two  A.  M. 
When  the  roads  are  unfavourable,  it  gets  in  generally  in 
time  for  an  early  breakfast.  The  canal-boats  have 
resumed  their  trips  now,  so  you  will  have  a  choice  of 
routes  from  Richmond,  if  you  conclude  to  go  there.  All 
unite  with  me  in  much  love,  and  I  am,  always, 

"Your  father,  R.  E.  LEE." 


AN   IDEAL  FATHER  257 

From  Lexington  I  had  gone  to  Baltimore  for  a  short 
visit,  and  had  spent  a  week  with  Mildred  at  the  home  of 
our  cousin,  Mr.  George  Washington  Peter,  near  Ellicott 
City.  Soon  after  getting  back  to  my  farm,  I  received 
the  following  letter  from  my  father,  still  trying  to  help 
me  along  in  my  work : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  8,  1867. 
" 'My  Dear  Son:  I  was  very  glad  to  learn  from  your 
letter  of  the  3ist  ult.  that  you  had  enjoyed  your  visit 
to  Baltimore,  for  I  feared  when  you  left  us  that  you 
might  have  a  visit  from  your  shaking  enemy.  I  trust, 
however,  that  he  has  now  left  you  never  to  return. 
Still  be  prudent  and  watch  his  approach  closely.  I  hope 
you  may  be  able  to  procure  some  good  mules  in  Richmond, 
as  it  is  a  matter  of  importance  to  your  operations.  If 
you  can  get  the  lime  delivered  at  ten  cents,  I  do  not  know 
a  more  economical  application  to  your  land.  I  believe 
you  will  be  repaid  by  the  first  crop,  provided  it  acts  as  I 
think  it  will.  Of  this  you  must  judge,  and  I  can  only 
say  that  if  you  can  accomplish  it,  and  wish  to  try, 
I  can  send  you  $300,  and  will  send  it  by  draft  to  you, 
or  to  any  one  in  Baltimore  that  you  will  designate,  as 
soon  as  I  hear  from  you.  I  commend  you  for  not  wishing 
to  go  in  debt,  or  to  proceed  faster  in  your  operations  than 
prudence  dictates.  I  think  it  economy  to  improve  your 
land,  and  to  begin  upon  the  system  you  prefer  as  soon  as 
possible.  It  is  your  only  chance  of  success,  so  let  me 
know.  I  have  to  write  in  haste,  as  the  examination  is  in 
progress,  and  I  have  to  be  present.  George  and  Robert 
both  came  up  to-day  in  the  subjects  in  which  they  are 
respectively  weakest,  so  give  them  your  good  wishes. 
I  received  yesterday  a  letter  from  Mildred  regretting  your 
departure  from  Baltimore,  and  expressing  the  pleasure 
she  derived  from  having  been  with  you  even  a  short  week. 
I  hope  she  will  continue  well  and  return  to  us  soon.  We 
are  all  about  as  you  left  us.  The  weather  has  moderated 
and  the  ice  disappeared  from  the  river,  though  the  boats 


258       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

have  not  yet  resumed  their  trips.  Mud  predominates 
now  instead  of  snow.  .  .  .  Wishing  you  all  happiness, 
I  am,  Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

" ROBERT  E.  LEE,  Jr." 

The  Robert  and  George  mentioned  here  were  two  of 
his  nephews  whom  he  was  educating  at  the  college,  the 
sons,  respectively,  of  his  brothers,  Sydney  Smith  Lee  and 
Charles  Carter  Lee.  They  were  members  of  his  house 
hold  and  were  treated  as  his  own  family. 

To  my  brother  Fitzhugh  he  writes  at  this  time  the 
following,  chiding  him  for  his  extravagance  in  a  Christmas 
gift,  and  asking  him  for  some  data  of  the  movements  of 
his  command.  It  is  full  of  good  advice,  encouragement, 
and  affection: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  26,  1867. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  You  must  not  think  because  I 
write  so  seldom  that  you  are  absent  from  my  thoughts. 
I  think  of  you  constantly,  and  am  ever  revolving  in  my 
mind  all  that  concerns  you.  I  have  an  ardent  desire  to 
see  you  re-established  at  your  home  and  enjoying  the 
pleasure  of  prosperity  around  you.  I  know  this  cannot 
be  accomplished  at  once,  but  must  come  from  continuous 
labour,  economy,  and  industry,  and  be  the  result  of  years 
of  good  management.  We  have  now  nothing  to  do  but 
to  attend  to  our  material  interests  which  collectively  will 
advance  the  interests  of  the  State,  and  to  await  events. 
The  dominant  party  cannot  reign  forever,  and  truth  and 
justice  will  at  last  prevail.  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  get 
down  to  see  you  and  Rob  during  the  next  vacation.  I 
shall  then  have  a  more  correct  apprehension  of  existing 
circumstances,  and  can  follow  your  progress  more  satis 
factorily.  I  was  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  nice 
eye-glasses  you  sent  me  Xmas,  and  asked  your  mother 
and  the  girls  to  thank  you  for  them,  which  I  hope  they 
did.  I  fear  they  are  too  nice  for  my  present  circumstances, 


AN   IDEAL  FATHER  259 

and  do  not  think  you  ought  to  spend  anything,  except  on 
your  farm,  until  you  get  that  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
We  have  all,  now,  to  confine  ourselves  strictly  to  our 
necessities.  .  .  .  While  you  are  your  own  manager 
you  can  carry  on  cultivation  on  a  large  scale  with  com 
paratively  less  expense  than  on  a  small  scale,  and  your 
profits  will  of  course  be  greater.  I  would  commence  a 
system  of  progressive  improvement  which  would  improve 
your  land  and  add  steadily  to  your  income.  I  have 
received,  lately,  from  Fitz  Lee  a  narrative  of  the  opera 
tions  of  his  division  of  cavalry.  I  requested  Custis  to 
write  to  you  for  a  report  of  your  operations  during  the 
winter  of  1863-4  down  to  April  18,  1865.  How  are  you 
progressing  with  it?  I  know  the  difficulties  of  making 
such  a  narrative  at  this  time;  still,  by  correspondence 
with  your  officers,  and  by  exerting  your  own  memory, 
much  can  be  done,  and  it  will  help  me  greatly  in  my 
undertaking.  Make  it  as  full  as  you  can,  embracing  all 
circumstances  bearing  on  the  campaigns  affecting  your 
operations  and  illustrating  the  conduct  of  your  division. 
I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  get  up  to  see  us  this  spring  or 
summer.  Select  the  time  when  you  can  best  absent 
yourself,  that  you  may  feel  the  freer  and  enjoy  yourself 
the  more.  ...  I  wish  I  were  nearer  to  you  all. 
.  .  .  Your  mother  is  about  the  same,  busy  with  her 
needle  and  her  pen,  and  as  cheerful  as  ever.  .  .  . 

"Affectionately  your  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"GENERAL  WM.  H.  F.  LEE." 

His  desire  for  accounts  from  his  officers  of  the  move 
ments  of  their  commands  shows  he  still  intended  to 
attempt  to  write  his  campaigns  with  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia.  Some  months  later  he  writes  again  to  my 
brother,  and  in  it  he  alludes  to  the  dark  cloud  of  the 
"reconstruction"  days,  hanging  then  over  the  South: 

"LEXINGTON,   Virginia,   June   8,    1867. 
"  My  Dear  Son:    Your  letter  written  on  your  birthday 
has  been  welcomed  by  the  whole  family,  and  I  assure  you 


26o       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

that  we  reciprocate  your  regrets  at  the  distance  which 
separates  us.  Although  the  future  is  still  dark,  and  the 
prospects  gloomy,  I  am  confident  that,  if  we  all  unite 
in  doing  our  duty,  and  earnestly  work  to  extract  what 
good  we  can  out  of  the  evil  that  now  hangs  over  our  dear 
land,  the  time  is  not  distant  when  the  angry  cloud  will 
be  lifted  from  our  horizon  and  the  sun  in  his  pristine 
brightness  again  shine  forth.  I,  therefore,  can  anticipate 
for  you  many  years  of  happiness  and  prosperity,  and  in 
my  daily  prayers  to  the  God  of  mercy  and  truth  I  invoke 
His  choicest  blessings  upon  you.  May  He  gather  you 
under  the  shadow  of  His  almighty  wing,  direct  you  in  all 
your  ways,  and  give  you  peace  and  everlasting  life.  It 
would  be  most  pleasant  to  my  feelings  could  I  again,  as 
you  propose,  gather  you  all  around  me,  but  I  fear  that 
will  not  be  in  this  world.  Let  us  all  so  live  that  we  may 
be  united  in  that  world  where  there  is  no  more  separation, 
and  where  sorrow  and  pain  never  come.  I  think  after 
next  year  I  will  have  done  all  the  good  I  can  for  the 
college,  and  I  should  then  like,  if  peace  is  restored  to 
the  country,  to  retire  to  some  quiet  spot,  east  of  the 
mountains,  where  I  might  prepare  a  home  for  your 
mother  and  sisters  after  my  death,  and  where  I  could 
earn  my  daily  bread.  We  will  talk  of  it  when  we  meet. 
This  summer  I  wish  to  carry  your  mother  to  some  of  the 
mineral  springs  where  she  might  obtain  some  relief,  but 
it  is  hard  to  know  where  that  can  be  found.  She  seems 
now  to  prefer  White  Sulphur,  merely  on  the  ground,  I  be 
lieve,  that  she  has  never  tried  those  waters,  and,  therefore, 
they  might  be  of  service  to  her.  If  she  makes  up  her  mind 
to  go,  I  will  endeavour  to  get  her  there  with  one  of  the 
girls,  at  least.  Mildred  has  returned  to  us,  looking  very 
well,  and  says  she  has  had  a  very  pleasant  tour  among 
her  friends,  and  has  received  a  great  deal  of  kindness 
wherever  she  has  been.  She  seems  to  be  very  contented 
now  at  home.  I  think  you  did  right  to  defer  your  visit 
to  us  until  you  had  more  leisure.  I  am  glad  your  pros 
pects  for  a  harvest  are  so  good.  Every  one  must  look 


AN   IDEAL  FATHER  261 

to  his  material  interests  now,  as  labour  is  our  only  re 
source.  The  completion  of  the  railroad  to  the  Pamunkey 
will  be  a  great  advantage  to  you  in  getting  to  market 
what  you  make,  and  I  hope  you  will  put  everything  to 
account.  I  hope  Robert  is  doing  well.  Mary  is  in 
Staunton,  where  she  went  a  week  since  to  attend  Miss 
Stribling's  wedding.  .  .  .  Miss  Mary  Stewart  is 
staying  with  us,  and  I  believe  is  to  remain  until  July,  when 
her  sister  Belle  is  to  join  her.  The  examination  of  the 
students  has  been  progressing  a  week  and  will  continue 
until  the  2oth.  The  young  men  have,  so  far,  done  very 
well  on  the  whole.  .  .  .  Mr.  Swinton  has  paid  his 
visit.  He  seemed  to  be  gentlemanly,  but  I  derive  no 
pleasure  from  my  interviews  with  book-makers.  I  have 
either  to  appear  uncivil,  or  run  the  risk  of  being  dragged 
before  the  public.  ...  I  am, 

"  Always  as  ever,  your  father,        R.  E.  LEE. 
"GENERAL  WM.  H.  FITZHUGH  LEE." 

The  Pamunkey  was  the  name  of  the  river  on  which 
the  White  House,  my  brother's  estate,  was  situated. 
The  railroad  from  Richmond,  torn  up  during  the  war, 
had  just  been  rebuilt  to  that  point.  Swinton  was  the 
historian  of  the  Federal  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He 
spent  some  days  in  Lexington,  and,  I  suppose,  sought 
from  my  father  information  on  points  connected  with 
his  history  of  the  movements  of  General  Grant's  army. 

My  father,  as  I  have  said  before,  commenced  almost  as 
soon  as  he  became  the  president  of  the  college  to  im 
prove  the  grounds,  roads,  walks,  fences,  etc.,  and  syste 
matically  kept  up  this  work  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
The  walks  about  the  college  grounds  were  in  a  very  bad 
condition,  and,  in  wet  weather,  often  ankle-deep  in  mud. 
As  a  first  step  toward  improving  them  the  president  had 
a  quantity  of  limestone  broken  up  and  spread  upon  the 
roads  and  walks.  The  rough,  jagged  surface  was  most 


262       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

uninviting,  and  horsemen  and  footmen  naturally  took  to 
the  grass.  Seeing  Colonel  T.  L.  Preston  riding  one  day 
across  the  campus  on  his  way  to  his  classes  at  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute,  my  father  remarked : 

"Ah,  Colonel,  I  have,  depended  upon  you  and  your 
big  sorrel  to  help  smooth  down  my  walks !" 

Another  day,  a  student  who  was  walking  on  the  grass 
saw  the  General  not  far  away,  and  immediately  stepped 
into  the  middle  of  the  rocks,  upon  which  he  manfully 
trudged  along.  A  strange  lady,  going  in  the  same 
direction,  followed  in  the  student's  footsteps,  and  when 
the  youth  came  within  speaking  distance,  my  father, 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  thanked  him  for  setting  so 
good  an  example,  and  added,  "  The  ladies  do  not  generally 
take  kindly  to  my  walks." 

The  buildings  also  were  altered  and  renovated,  so  far 
as  funds  for  the  purpose  permitted.  He  urged  the  erec 
tion  as  soon  as  possible  of  a  chapel,  which  should  be  of 
dimensions  suitable  for  the  demands  of  the  college.  There 
were  other  objects  calling  for  a  far  greater  outlay  of  money 
than  the  resources  of  the  college  afforded,  but  he  deemed 
this  of  great  importance,  and  succeeded  in  getting  ap 
propriations  for  it  first.  He  hastened  the  selection  of 
the  site  and  the  drawing  of  the  plans.  The  completion 
of  the  work  was  much  retarded  owing  to  the  want  of  funds, 
but  his  interest  in  its  erection  never  flagged.  He  gave 
it  his  personal  superintendence  from  first  to  last,  visiting 
it  often  two  or  three  times  a  day.  After  it  was  dedicated, 
he  always  attended  morning  prayers  and  all  other  religious 
exercises  held  there,  unless  prevented  by  sickness. 
Whenever  I  was  there  on  a  visit  I  always  went  with  him 
every  morning  to  chapel.  He  had  a  certain  seat  which 
he  occupied,  and  you  could  have  kept  your  watch  regu- 


AN  IDEAL  FATHER  263 

lated  by  the  time  he  entered  the  doors.  As  he  thought 
well  of  the  young  men  who  left  his  drawing-room  by  ten 
o'clock,  so  he  placed  in  a  higher  estimate  those  who 
attended  chapel  regularly,  especially  if  they  got  there 
in  proper  time.  There  was  no  regular  chaplain,  but  the 
ministers  of  the  different  denominations  who  had  churches 
in  the  village  undertook,  by  turns,  to  perform  a  month's 
service.  The  hour  was  forty-five  minutes  past  seven 
o'clock  every  morning,  except  Sunday,  during  the 
session,  save  in  the  three  winter  months,  December, 
January,  and  February,  when  it  was  one  hour  later.  He 
was  the  earnest  friend  and  strong  supporter  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  and  an  annual  contributor 
to  its  funds.  Upon  one  occasion,  at  least,  he  placed  in 
its  library  a  collection  of  suitable  books,  which  he  had 
purchased  with  that  intention.  In  his  annual  reports  to 
the  trustees,  he  always  made  mention  of  the  association, 
giving  an  account  of  its  operations  and  progress. 


CHAPTER  XV 
MOUNTAIN    RIDES 

AN  INCIDENT  ABOUT  "TRAVELLER" — THE  GENERAL'S 
LOVE  FOR  CHILDREN — HIS  FRIENDSHIP  FOR  EX- 
PRESIDENT  DAVIS — A  RIDE  WITH  HIS  DAUGHTER  TO 
THE  PEAKS  OF  OTTER — MILDRED  LEE's  NARRATIVE 

MRS.  LEE  AT  THE  WHITE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS — THE 
GREAT  ATTENTION  PAID  HER  HUSBAND  THERE — HIS 
IDEA  OF  LIFE 

SINCE  the  arrival  of  "Lucy  Long"  my  father  was 
generally  accompanied  by  one  of  my  sisters  in  his  rides, 
whenever  the  weather  and  the  condition  of  the  roads 
admitted  of  their  going.  It  took  very  severe  weather  to 
keep  him  in,  though  often  he  could  not  spare  the  time, 
for  during  the  winter  months  the  days  were  very  short. 
Every  Monday  afternoon  there  was  a  faculty  meeting, 
and  the  vestry  meetings  of  his  church  were  held  two 
or  three  times  a  month.  Whenever  I  was  in  Lexington 
I  rode  with  him,  and  when  he  was  prevented  by  any  of 
the  above-mentioned  causes  he  would  ask  me  to  take 
Traveller  out  and  give  him  a  gallop,  which  I  was  delighted 
to  do,  and  I  think  I  had  my  revenge  for  his  treatment  of 
me  on  that  ride  from  Orange  to  Fredericksburg  in  the 
winter  of  1862.  My  father's  affection  for  his  horses 
was  very  deep  and  strong.  In  a  letter  written  from 
the  Springs  one  summer,  to  his  clerk  in  Lexington, 
he  says : 

264 


MOUNTAIN   RIDES  265 

"How  is  Traveller?  Tell  him  I  miss  him  dreadfully, 
and  have  repented  of  our  separation  but  once — and  that 
is  the  whole  time  since  we  parted." 

I  think  Traveller  appreciated  his  love  and  sympathy, 
and  returned  it  as  much  as  was  in  a  horse's  nature  to  do. 
As  illustrative  of  this  bond  between  them,  a  very  pretty 
story  was  told  me  by  Mrs.  S.  P.  Lee  * : 

1  'One  afternoon  in  July  of  this  year,  the  General  rode 
down  to  the  canal-boat  landing  to  put  on  board  a  young 
lady  who  had  been  visiting  his  daughters  and  was  re 
turning  home.  He  dismounted,  tied  Traveller  to  a  post, 
and  was  standing  on  the  boat  making  his  adieux,  when 
some  one  called  out  that  Traveller  was  loose.  Sure 
enough,  the  gallant  gray  was  making  his  way  up  the 
road,  increasing  his  speed  as  a  number  of  boys  and  men 
tried  to  stop  him.  My  father  immediately  stepped 
ashore,  called  to  the  crowd  to  stand  still,  and  advancing 
a  few  steps  gave  a  peculiar  low  whistle.  At  the  first 
sound,  Traveller  stopped  and  pricked  up  his  ears.  The 
General  whistled  a  second  time,  and  the  horse  with  a 
glad  whinny  turned  and  trotted  quietly  back  to  his 
master,  who  patted  and  coaxed  him  before  tying  him  up 
again.  To  a  bystander  expressing  surprise  at  the 
creature's  docility  the  General  observed  that  he  did  not 
see  how  any  man  could  ride  a  horse  for  any  length  of 
time  without  a  perfect  understanding  being  established 
between  them.  My  sister  Mildred,  who  rode  with  him 
constantly  this  summer,  tells  me  of  his  enjoyment  of 
their  long  rides  out  into  the  beautiful,  restful  country. 
Nothing  seemed  to  delight  him  so  much. 

"  I  have  often  known  him  to  give  rein  to  Traveller  and 

*  Daughter  of  General  W.  N.  Pendleton,  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the 
A.  N.  Va.,  and  widow  of  Colonel  Edwin  Grey  Lee,  C.  S.  A. 


266       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

go  at  full  speed  to  the  top  of  some  long  hill,  then  turn  and 
wait  for  me  jogging  along  on  Lucy,  calling  out  with 
merry  voice,  '  Come  along,  Miss  Lucy,  Miss  Lucy,  Lucy 
Long  ! '  He  would  question  the  country  people  about  the 
roads,  where  they  came  from,  where  they  led  to,  and  soon 
knew  every  farmer's  name  and  every  homestead  in  the 
county.  He  often  said : 

* '  I  wish  I  had  a  little  farm  of  my  own,  where  we  could 
live  in  peace  to  the  end  of  our  days.  You  girls  could 
attend  to  the  dairy  and  the  cows  and  the  sheep  and  wait 
on  your  mother  and  me,  for  it  is  time  now  for  us  old 
people  to  rest  and  for  the  young  people  to  work.' ' 

All  the  children  in  the  country  around  were  devoted 
to  him,  and  felt  no  hesitation  in  approaching  him,  after 
they  once  knew  him.  He  used  to  meet  his  favourites 
among  the  little  ones  on  the  street,  and  would  sometimes 
lift  them  up  in  front  of  him  to  give  them  a  ride  on  Traveller. 
That  was  the  greatest  treat  he  could  provide.  There  is 
a  very  pretty  story  told  of  Virginia  Lee  Letcher,  his  god 
daughter,  and  her  baby  sister,  Fannie,  which  is  yet 
remembered  among  the  Lexington  people.  Jennie  had 
been  followed  by  her  persistent  sister,  and  all  the  coaxing 
and  the  commanding  of  the  six-year-old  failed  to  make 
the  younger  return  home.  Fannie  had  sat  down  by  the 
roadside  to  pout,  when  General  Lee  came  riding  by. 
Jennie  at  once  appealed  to  him: 

"General  Lee,  won't  you  please  make  this  child  go 
home  to  her  mother?" 

The  General  immediately  rode  over  to  where  Fannie 
sat,  leaned  over  from  his  saddle  and  drew  her  up  into  his 
lap.  There  she  sat  in  royal  contentment,  and  was  thus 
grandly  escorted  home.  When  Mrs.  Letcher  inquired 


MOUNTAIN   RIDES  267 

of  Jennie  why  she  had  given  General  Lee  so  much  trouble, 
she  received  the  naive  reply : 

"I  couldn't  make  Fan  go  home,  and  I  thought  he 
could  do  anything."  * 

There  was  a  little  boy  living  with  his  mother,  who  had 
come  from  New  York.  His  father  had  been  killed  in 
our  army.  The  little  fellow,  now  Colonel  Grier  Monroe, 
of  New  York  city,  was  much  teased  at  his  playmates 
calling  him  "Yankee"  when  he  knew  he  was  not  one. 
One  day  he  marched  into  my  father's  office  in  the  college, 
stated  his  case,  and  asked  for  redress. 

"  The  next  boy  that  calls  you  *  Yankee '  send  him  to  me," 
said  the  General,  which,  when  reported,  struck  such 
terror  into  the  hearts  of  his  small  comrades  that  the 
offense  was  never  repeated. 

There  was  another  little  boy  who  was  accustomed  to 
clamber  up  by  the  side  of  my  father  at  the  morning 
chapel  exercises,  and  was  so  kindly  treated  that,  when 
ever  he  saw  his  distinguished  friend,  he  straightway 
assumed  a  position  beside  him.  At  the  college  commence 
ment,  which  was  held  in  the  chapel,  the  little  fellow 
glided  from  his  mother's  side  and  quietly  stole  up  to  the 
platform.  Soon  he  was  nestled  at  the  feet  of  the  dignified 
president,  and,  resting  his  head  upon  his  knees,  dropped 
asleep.  General  Lee  tenderly  remained  without  moving, 
preferring  to  suffer  from  the  constrained  position  rather 
than  disturb  the  innocent  slumberer.  This  boy  is 
now  the  Reverend  Carter  Jones  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

About  this  time  Ex-President  Davis  was  freed  from 
the  confinement  of  his  prison  at  Fortress  Monroe,  where 
he  had  been  for  about  two  years.  There  was  a  warm 

*  Daughters   of   Governor  John   Letcher — the  War   Governor  of 
Virginia. 


268       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

personal  friendship  between  these  two  men,  dating  from 
the  time  they  were  cadets  at  West  Point  together,  and 
as  his  unjust  and  unnecessary  imprisonment  had  pained 
and  distressed  none  more  than  my  father,  so  his  release 
gave  him  corresponding  joy.  He  at  once  wrote  to  him 
the  following  letter,  full  of  feeling  and  sympathy : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  June  i,  1867. 
"HONOURABLE  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Dams:  You  can  conceive  better  than  I 
can  express  the  misery  which  your  friends  have  suffered 
from  your  long  imprisonment,  and  the  other  afflictions 
incident  thereto.  To  no  one  has  this  been  more  painful 
than  to  me,  and  the  impossibility  of  affording  relief  has 
added  to  my  distress.  Your  release  has  lifted  a  load 
from  my  heart  which  I  have  not  words  to  tell.  My  daily 
prayer  to  the  great  Ruler  of  the  world  is  that  He  may 
shield  you  from  all  future  harm,  guard  you  from  all  evil, 
and  give  you  that  peace  which  the  world  cannot  take 
away.  That  the  rest  of  your  days  may  be  triumphantly 
happy  is  the  sincere  and  earnest  wish  of 

"  Your  most  obedient,  faithful  friend  and  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Though  my  father  would  take  no  part  in  the  politics 
of  the  country,  and  rarely  expressed  his  views  on  ques 
tions  of  that  nature  then  occupying  the  minds  of  all, 
nevertheless,  when  he  deemed  it  necessary,  and  to  the 
proper  person,  he  very  plainly  said  what  he  thought. 
The  following  letter  to  General  Longstreet,  in  answer 
to  one  from  him  written  about  this  time,  illustrates  what 
I  have  said  in  this  connection,  and  explains  itself: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  October  29,  1867. 
"GENERAL  J.  LONGSTREET, 

"21  Carondelet  Street,  New  Orleans,  La. 
"  My  Dear  General:  When  I  received  your  letter  of  the 
8th  of  June,  I  had  just  returned  from  a  short  trip  to 


MOUNTAIN   RIDES  269 

Bedford  County,  and  was  preparing  for  a  more  extended 
visit  to  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  for  the  benefit  of  Mrs. 
Lee's  health.  As  I  could  not  write  such  a  letter  as  you 
desired,  and  as  you  stated  that  you  would  leave  New 
Orleans  for  Mexico  in  a  week  from  the  time  you  wrote, 
to  be  absent  some  months,  I  determined  to  delay  my 
reply  till  my  return.  Although  I  have  been  here  more 
than  a  month,  I  have  been  so  occupied  by  necessary 
business,  and  so  incommoded  by  the  effects  of  an  attack  of 
illness,  from  which  I  have  not  yet  recovered,  that  this 
is  the  first  day  that  I  have  been  able  to  write  to  you. 
I  have  avoided  all  discussion  of  political  questions  since 
the  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  have,  in  my  own  conduct, 
and  in  my  recommendations  to  others,  endeavoured  to 
conform  to  existing  circumstances.  I  consider  this  the 
part  of  wisdom,  as  well  as  of  duty ;  but,  while  I  think  we 
should  act  under  the  law  and  according  to  the  law  im 
posed  upon  us,  I  cannot  think  the  course  pursued  by  the 
dominant  political  party  the  best  for  the  interests  of  the 
country,  and  therefore  cannot  say  so  or  give  it  my 
approval.  This  is  the  reason  why  I  could  not  comply 
with  the  request  in  your  letter.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that 
all  who  can  should  vote  for  the  most  intelligent,  honest, 
and  conscientious  men  eligible  to  office,  irrespective  of 
former  party  opinions,  who  will  endeavour  to  make  the 
new  constitutions  and  the  laws  passed  under  them  as 
beneficial  as  possible  to  the  true  interests,  prosperity, 
and  liberty  of  all  classes  and  conditions  of  the  people. 
With  my  best  wishes  for  your  health  and  happpiness, 
and  my  kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  Longstreet  and  your 
children,  I  am,  with  great  regard,  and  very  truly  and 
sincerely  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

This  summer  my  father  paid  a  visit  to  the  Peaks  of 
Otter,  a  famous  group  of  mountains  in  the  Blue  Ridge 
range,  situated  in  Bedford  County,  Virginia.  He  rode 
Traveller,  and  my  sister  Mildred  accompanied  him  on 


270       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"Lucy  Long.'*  After  visiting  the  Peaks  and  ascending 
the  summit,  which  is  4,000  feet  in  height,  he  rode  on  to 
Liberty,  now  Bedford  City,  ten  miles  distant,  and  spent 
the  night  at  "Avenel,"  the  home  of  the  Burwells,  who 
were  friends  and  connections  of  his. 

From  there  the  riding  party  went  to  Captain  Buford's, 
about  twelve  miles  distant,  where  they  spent  the  night 
and  the  next  day.  The  Captain  was  a  farmer,  a  great 
admirer  and  a  staunch  upholder  of  his  native  State, 
Virginia,  in  her  fight  for  constitutional  liberty,  from 
'6 1  to  '65.  He  had  sent  his  sons  into  the  army,  and  had 
given  of  his  substance  freely  to  support  the  troops,  as 
well  as  the  poor  and  needy,  the  widow  and  orphan, 
who  had  been  left  in  want  by  the  death  in  battle  of  their 
natural  protectors  and  by  the  ravages  of  war.  In  the 
early  years  of  the  struggle,  my  mother  and  sisters,  when 
"  refugeeing, "  had  boarded,  as  they  thought  and  intended 
at  the  time,  at  his  home.  But  when  they  tried  to  induce 
him  to  accept  pay  for  the  shelter  and  food  he  had  given 
them  for  a  month  or  more,  he  sternly  refused.  His  was 
a  patriotism  that  hesitated  at  no  sacrifice,  and  was  of  a 
kind  and  character  that  admitted  of  no  self -consideration. 
This  trait,  so  strongly  developed  in  him,  attracted  the 
admiration  and  respect  of  my  father.  The  visit  he  paid 
him  was  to  thank  him  in  person  for  the  kindness  extended 
to  his  wife  and  daughters,  and  also  for  a  very  large  and 
handsome  horse  which  he  had  sent  my  father  the  last 
year,  I  think,  of  the  war.  My  sister  Mildred  tells  me 
what  she  can  recollect  of  this  ride.  It  is  a  source  of 
endless  regret  to  us  that  we  cannot  recall  more.  His 
companionship  was  at  all  times  delightful  to  his  children, 
and  on  an  occasion  of  this  kind,  invigorated  by  the  exer- 


MOUNTAIN   RIDES  271 

cise,  inspired  by  the  bright   skies   and   relieved   of  all 
harassing  cares,  he  became  almost  a  boy  again. 
My  sister  Mildred  says: 

"We  started  at  daybreak  one  perfect  June  day,  papa 
on  Traveller,  I  on  Lucy  Long,  our  saddle-bags  being  our 
only  luggage.  He  was  in  the  gayest  humour,  laughing 
and  joking  with  me  as  I  paced  along  by  his  side  on  quiet 
'Miss  Lucy.'  Traveller  seemed  to  sympathise  with  his 
master,  his  springy  step,  high  head,  and  bright  eye 
clearly  showing  how  happy  he  was  and  how  much  interest 
he  took  in  this  journey.  He  had  to  be  constantly  chided 
for  his  restlessness,  and  was  told  that  it  would  be  well  for 
him  to  reserve  some  of  his  too  abundant  energy  for  the 
latter  part  of  his  trip.  At  midday  we  dismounted,  and, 
tying  our  horses  while  resting  on  the  soft  grass  under  a 
wild-plum  hedge  by  the  roadside,  ate  our  lunch.  We 
then  rode  on,  and  soon  came  to  the  James  River,  which 
was  crossed  by  a  ferry-boat.  The  ferry-man  was  an 
old  soldier,  who  of  course  recognised  papa,  and  refused 
payment ;  nor  could  he  be  induced  to  take  any.  Further 
on  the  road,  as  our  horses  were  climbing  a  steep  rocky 
ascent,  we  met  some  little  children,  with  very  dirty 
faces,  playing  on  the  roadside.  He  spoke  to  them  in  his 
gentle,  playful  way,  alluding  to  their  faces  and  the  desira 
bility  of  using  a  little  water.  They  stared  at  us  with 
open-eyed  astonishment,  and  then  scampered  off  up  the 
hill ;  a  few  minutes  later,  in  rounding  this  hill,  we  passed 
a  little  cabin,  when  out  they  all  ran  with  clean  faces, 
fresh  aprons,  and  their  hair  nicely  brushed,  one  little  girl 
exclaiming,  *  We  know  you  are  General  Lee  !  we  have  got 
your  picture ! ' 

"That  night  about  nine  o'clock  we  reached  the  little 
mountain  inn  at  the  foot  of  the  Peaks,  ate  a  hearty  supper, 
and  soon  went  to  bed,  tired  out  by  our  thirty-mile  ride. 
Our  bedrooms  seemed  to  be  a  loft,  and  the  beds  were  of 
feathers,  but  I,  at  least,  slept  without  turning.  Next 
morning,  at  dawn  of  day,  we  set  out,  accompanied  by 


272       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  master  ol  the  house,  and  rode  for  a  long  time  up  the 
mountain-side,  Lucy  following  closely  behind  Traveller. 
Finally  it  became  impossible  to  proceed  further  on  horse 
back,  so  the  horses  were  fastened  to  some  trees  and  we 
climbed  the  rest  of  the  way  to  the  summit  on  foot.  When 
the  top  was  reached,  we  sat  for  a  long  time  on  a  great 
rock,  gazing  down  on  the  glorious  prospect  beneath. 
Papa  spoke  but  a  few  words,  and  seemed  very  sad.  I 
have  heard  there  is  now  a  mark  on  that  rock  showing 
where  he  sat.  The  inn-keeper,  who  accompanied  us  all 
the  way,  told  us  that  we  had  ridden  nearer  the  top  than 
any  other  persons  up  to  that  time.  Regaining  our 
horses,  we  proceeded  on  our  second  day's  journey,  which 
was  to  end  at  Liberty,  some  ten  miles  distant. 

"  We  had  not  ridden  far,  when  suddenly  a  black  thun 
der-cloud  arose  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  heavy  shower 
broke  over  us.  We  galloped  back  to  a  log  cabin  we  had 
just  passed.  Papa  lifted  me  off  of  Lucy  and,  dripping 
with  water,  I  rushed  in,  while  he  led  the  horse  under  an 
adjacent  shed.  The  woman  of  the  house  looked  dark  and 
glum  on  seeing  the  pools  of  water  forming  from  my  dress 
on  her  freshly  scoured  floor,  and  when  papa  came  in  with 
his  muddy  boots  her  expression  was  more  forbidding  and 
gloomy.  He  asked  her  permission  to  wait  there  until 
the  shower  was  over,  and  praised  her  nice  white  floor, 
regretting  that  we  had  marred  its  beauty.  At  this 
praise,  so  becomingly  bestowed,  she  was  slightly  appeased, 
and  asked  us  into  the  best  room,  which  was  adorned  with 
colored  prints  of  Lee,  Jackson,  Davis,  and  Johnston. 
When  the  shower  ceased  and  papa  went  out  for  the  horses 
I  told  her  who  he  was.  Poor  woman !  She  seemed 
stunned,  and  kept  on  saying : '  What  will  Joe  say  ?  What 
will  Joe  say  !'  Joe  was  her  husband,  and  had  been,  like 
every  other  man  in  the  country,  a  soldier  in  the  'Army 
of  Northern  Virginia.' 

"The  shower  over  and  the  sun  shining  brightly,  we 
rode  along  joyously  through  the  refreshed  hills  and  dust- 
laid  roads,  arriving  at  Liberty  in  good  time,  and  went 


MOUNTAIN  RIDES  .  273 

to  'Avenel,'  the  pretty  home  of  the  Burwells.  The 
comforts  of  this  sweet  old  place  seemed  very  delicious  to 
me  after  my  short  experience  of  roughing  it.  Papa  was 
much  amused  when  I  appeared  in  crinoline,  my  'hoops' 
having  been  squeezed  into  the  saddle-bags  and  brought 
with  me.  We  remained  here  the  next  day,  Sunday,  and  the 
day  after  rode  on  some  twelve  miles  to  Captain  Buford's. 
The  Captain,  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  received  us  with  open 
arms,  seemed  much  surprised  at  my  full  growth,  and 
said,  'Why,  General,  you  called  her  your  'little  girl,'  and 
she  is  a  real  chunk  of  a  gal ! '  He  showed  us  his  fine 
Jersey  cattle,  his  rich  fields  and  well-filled  barns,  and 
delighted  in  talking  of  the  time  during  the  war  when 
mama,  Mary,  and  Agnes  paid  him  a  visit.  He  over 
flowed  with  kindness  and  hospitality,  and  his  table  fairly 
groaned  with  the  good  things.  Papa  afterwards  con 
stantly  quoted  his  original  sayings,  especially  one  on 
early  rising,  which  was  made  on  the  eve  of  our  arrival, 
when  he  told  us  good-night.  Papa  asked  him  what  time 
he  must  be  ready  for  breakfast  next  morning. 

'"Well,  General,'  said  the  Captain,  'as  you  have  been 
riding  hard,  and  as  you  are  company,  we  will  not  have 
breakfast  to-morrow  until  sun-up,'  which  meant  in  those 
June  days  somewhere  before  five  o'clock. 

"After  a  day  spent  pleasantly  here,  we  started  next 
morning  early  on  our  return.  Halting  for  a  short  time 
in  Buchanan,  we  stopped  at  Colonel  Edmund  Pendleton's, 
who  then  lived  there  in  an  imposing  white  pillared  edifice, 
formerly  a  bank.  Mrs.  Pendleton  gave  us  some  delicious 
apricots  from  her  garden,  which  my  father  enjoyed 
greatly.  We  then  proceeded  on  the  road  to  Lexington, 
going  by  the  Natural  Bridge,  where  we  had  another  short 
rest,  and  reached  home  the  same  night,  about  ten  o'clock, 
after  a  forty-mile  ride. 

"  Shortly  after  this  visit  Captain  Buford  sent  me  a  fine 
Jersey  cow,  on  condition  that  I  would  get  up  early  every 
morning  and  milk  her,  and  also  send  him  a  part  of  the 
butter  I  made." 


274       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

After  my  father  returned  from  this  trip,  he  began  his 
arrangements  for  taking  my  mother  to  the  Greenbrier 
White  Sulphur  Springs.  He  hoped  that  the  waters  and 
the  change  might  be  of  service  to  her  general  health, 
even  if  they  should  not  alleviate  the  severity  of  her 
rheumatic  pains. 

About  the  first  of  July,  my  mother,  sister  Agnes  and 
Miss  Mary  Pendleton,  with  my  brother  Custis  in  charge, 
set  out  for  the  White  Sulphur  Springs.  My  father,  with 
Professor  J.  J.  White,  decided  to  make  the  journey  to  the 
same  place  on  horseback.  They  started  a  day  in  advance, 
and  were  at  Covington  when  the  ladies,  travelling  by 
stage-coach  to  Goshen,  thence  by  rail,  arrived  there. 
After  spending  the  night  at  Covington,  the  passengers 
were  put  into  as  many  stage-coaches  as  were  necessary, 
and  the  long,  rough  drive  over  the  mountains  by  "  Calla- 
han's"  commenced. 

General  Lee  on  Traveller  was  at  once  recognised,  and 
when  it  was  found  out  by  his  fellow-travellers  that  Mrs. 
Lee  was  with  him,  attentions  and  services  of  all  kinds 
were  pressed  on  her  party,  and  a  most  enjoyable  lunch 
was  sent  to  the  stage  reserved  for  her.  Seeing  that  the 
other  stages  were  much  crowded,  while  the  one  reserved 
for  his  wife  had  vacant  seats,  my  father  insisted  that 
some  of  the  others  should  join  his  party,  which  they 
very  gladly  did.  He  and  Professor  White  went  ahead  of 
the  stages  on  their  horses. 

At  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  the  "  Harrison  Cottage, " 
in  "Baltimore  Row,"  had  been  put  at  my  father's  dis 
posal,  and  the  entire  party  was  soon  most  pleasantly 
established  there.  Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran,  of  Washington, 
Professor  White,  Miss  Mary  Pendleton,  Agnes,  and  my 
father  and  brother  had  a  table  together.  Almost  every 


MOUNTAIN   RIDES  275 

day  some  special  dainty  was  sent  to  this  table.  My 
mother,  of  course,  had  her  meals  served  in  her  cottage. 
Her  faithful  and  capable  servant,  Milly  Howard,  was 
always  most  eager  for  her  to  appear  at  her  best,  and  took 
great  pride  in  dressing  her  up,  so  far  as  she  was  allowed, 
in  becoming  caps,  etc.,  to  receive  her  numerous  visitors. 
My  father's  usual  custom  while  there  was  to  spend  some 
time  in  the  morning  in  the  large  parlour  of  the  hotel, 
before  taking  his  ride  on  Traveller.  After  dinner  he 
went  again  to  the  parlour,  and  also  after  tea. 

Among  the  company  were  many  old  friends  and  ac 
quaintances  from  Baltimore,  who  could  not  sufficiently 
testify  their  pleasure  in  this  renewal  of  intercourse. 
Whenever  he  appeared  in  parlour  or  ballroom  he  was 
the  centre  of  attraction,  and  in  vain  the  young  men  tried 
to  engage  the  attention  of  the  young  ladies  when  General 
Lee  was  present. 

During  his  visit,  a  circus  came  to  "Dry  Creek, "  a 
neighbouring  settlement,  and  gave  an  exhibition.  The 
manager  rode  over  to  the  Springs,  came  to  my  father's 
cottage,  and  insisted  on  leaving  several  tickets,  begging 
that  General  Lee  would  permit  him  to  send  carriages 
for  him  and  any  friends  he  might  like  to  take  to  his  show. 
These  offers  my  father  courteously  declined,  but  bought 
many  tickets,  which  he  presented  to  his  little  friends  at 
the  Springs. 

During  the  morning  he  rode  over  to  "Dry  Creek," 
where  the  crowds  of  country  people,  many  of  them  his 
old  soldiers,  feasted  their  eyes  on  him  to  the  neglect  of 
the  circus.  That  night  a  special  exhibition  was  given  by 
the  manager  to  General  Lee's  friends,  who  were  taken  to 
seats  draped  with  Confederate  colors,  red,  and  white. 
After  the  return  from  the  circus,  my  father  invited  a 


276       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

large  party  to  his  cottage  to  partake  of  a  huge  watermelon 
sent  him  by  express  from  Mobile.  It  weighed  about 
sixty  pounds,  and  its  producer  thought  the  only  fitting 
way  he  could  dispose  of  it  was  to  present  it  to  General  Lee. 

Every  possible  attention  that  love,  admiration,  and 
respect  could  prompt  was  paid  my  father  by  the  guests 
at  the  Springs,  each  one  seeming  anxious  to  do  him 
homage.  My  mother  and  sister  shared  it  all  with  him, 
for  any  attention  and  kindness  shown  them  went  straight 
to  his  heart. 

After  spending  three  weeks  at  "  the  White,"  my  father's 
party  went  to  the  Old  Sweet  Springs,  where  they  were  all 
made  very  comfortable,  one  of  the  parlours  being  turned 
into  a  bedroom  for  my  mother,  so  that  in  her  wheeled 
chair  she  could  go  out  on  the  verandas  and  into  the  ball 
room. 

He  was  taken  quite  sick  there,  and,  though  he  rode  over 
from  the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  was  unable  to  continue 
his  early  rides  for  some  time.  His  room  was  on  the  first 
floor,  with  a  window  opening  on  the  end  of  the  build 
ing.  One  morning,  when  he  was  very  unwell  and  it 
was  important  that  he  should  not  be  disturbed,  Miss 
Pendleton  found  a  countryman  cautiously  opening  the 
shutters  from  the  outside.  She  quickly  interfered, 
saying : 

"Go  away;  that  is  General  Lee's  room." 

The  man  dropped  back,  saying  mournfully: 

"I  only  wanted  to  see  him." 

On  another  occasion  some  country  people  came  to  the 
Springs  with  plums  and  berries  for  sale.  Catching  sight 
of  him  on  the  piazza,  they  put  down  their  baskets,  took 
off  their  hats,  and  hurrahed  most  lustily  for  "Marse 
Bob."  They  were  his  old  soldiers.  When  he  acknowl- 


MOUNTAIN   RIDES  277 

edged  their  loyalty  by  shaking  hands  with  them,  they 
insisted  on  presenting  him  with  their  fruit. 

About  the  first  week  in  September  my  father  rode 
back  to  Lexington  on  Traveller,  Custis  taking  my  mother 
and  Agnes  back  over  the  same  tedious  journey  by  stage 
and  rail. 

There  have  been  preserved  very  few  letters  from  him 
at  this  time.  I  find  one  to  me,  full  of  kindness,  whole 
some  advice,  and  offers  of  aid,  in  which  he  sends  his 
thanks  to  the  President  of  the  York  River  Railroad  for 
a  courtesy  tendered  him: 

"WHITE   SULPHUR  SPRINGS, 
"GREENBRIER  COUNTY,  WEST  VIRGINIA, 

" August  5,  1867. 

"My  Dear  Son:  I  received  to-day  your  letter  of  the 
28th  ult.,  inclosing  a  free  ticket  over  the  Richmond  & 
York  River  Railroad,  from  its  president,  Mr.  Dudley. 
Please  present  him  my  grateful  thanks  for  this  mark  of 
his  esteem.  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  that  the  road  is 
completed  to  the  White  House,  and  that  a  boat  connects 
it  with  Norfolk.  The  convenience  of  the  community 
and  the  interests  of  the  road  will  be  promoted  thereby. 
It  is  a  difficult  undertaking  in  these  times  to  build  a  road, 
and  I  hope  the  company  will  soon  be  able  to  finish  it  to 
West  Point.  I  suppose  you  have  received  before  this 
the  letter  from  your  mother  and  Agnes,  announcing  our 
arrival  at  this  place  and  informing  you  of  the  company. 
The  latter  has  been  much  increased,  and  among  the  ar 
rivals  are  the  Daingerfields,  Haxalls,  Capertons,  Miss  Belle 
Harrison,  etc. ,  etc.  I  told  Agnes  to  tell  you  how  much  we 
wished  you  were  with  us,  and  as  an  inducement  for  you 
to  join  us,  if  you  could  leave  home,  if  you  would  come,  I 
would  pay  your  expenses.  I  feel  very  sensibly,  in  my 
old  age,  the  absence  of  my  children,  though  I  recognise 
the  necessity  of  every  one's  attending  to  his  business,  and 
admire  him  the  more  for  so  doing.  I  am  very  glad  that 


278       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

you  and  Fitzhugh  have,  so  far,  escaped  the  fever,  and 
hope  you  may  avoid  it  altogether.  Be  prudent.  I  am 
very  sorry  that  your  harvest  promises  a  poor  yield.  It 
will  be  better  next  year,  but  you  must  continue  system 
atically  the  improvement  of  the  land.  I  know  of  no 
better  method  than  by  liming,  and  if  you  wish  to  pros 
ecute  it,  and  are  in  need  of  help,  I  will  aid  you  to  the 
extent  of  last  year  or  more.  So  make  your  arrangements, 
and  let  me  know  your  wishes.  A  farmer's  life  is  one  of 
labour,  but  it  is  also  one  of  pleasure,  and  the  conscious 
ness  of  steady  improvement,  though  it  may  be  slow,  is 
very  encouraging.  I  think  you  had  better  also  begin  to 
make  arrangements  to  build  yourself  a  house.  If  you 
can  do  nothing  more  than  prepare  a  site,  lay  out  a  garden, 
orchard,  etc. ,  and  get  a  small  house  partly  finished,  so  as 
to  inhabit  it,  it  will  add  to  your  comfort  and  health.  I 
can  help  you  in  that  too.  Think  about  it.  Then,  too, 
you  must  get  a  nice  wife.  I  do  not  like  you  being  so 
lonely.  I  fear  you  will  fall  in  love  with  celibacy.  I 
have  heard  some  very  pleasing  reports  of  Fitzhugh.  I 
hope  that  his  desires,  if  beneficial  to  his  happiness,  may 
be  crowned  with  success.  I  saw  the  lady  when  I  was 
in  Petersburg,  and  was  much  pleased  with  her.  I  will 
get  Agnes  or  your  mother  to  tell  you  what  occurs  at  the 
Springs.  There  are  some  500  people  here,  very  pleasant 
and  kind,  but  most  of  my  time  is  passed  alone 
with  Traveller  in  the  mountains.  I  hope  your  mother 
may  derive  some  benefit  from  the  waters,  but  I  see  none 
now.  It  will,  at  least,  afford  her  some  variety,  and  give 
her  some  pleasure,  of  which  there  is  a  dearth  with  us 
now.  Give  much  love  to  Fitzhugh.  All  unite  in  love 
to  you.  God  bless  you,  my  son,  prays 
"Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Early  in  September  my  father  sent  my  mother  and  sis 
ter  home  to  Lexington,  while  he  mounted  Traveller  and 
rode  back  by  way  of  the  Hot  Springs,  Healing,  and  Rock- 
bridge  Alum.  He  was  detained  by  indisposition  a  day  or 


MOUNTAIN   RIDES  279 

two  at  the  Healing,  and  writes  to  my  mother  a  little  note 
from  that  place: 

"  HEALING  SPRINGS,  September  12,  1867. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  arrived  here  on  the  zoth,  and  had 
expected  to  resume  my  journey  this  morning,  but  did  not 
feel  able.  Should  nothing  prevent,  I  will  leave  here 
to-morrow,  but  I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to  reach  the 
Rockbridge  Alum,  which  I  am  told  is  twenty-nine  miles 
distant.  In  that  event,  I  will  halt  on  the  road,  and  arrive 
there  on  Saturday,  lie  over  Sunday,  and  reach  Lexington 
on  Monday.  I  am  very  anxious  to  get  to  Lexington,  and 
think  nothing  on  the  route  will  benefit  me,  as  I  feel  much 
concerned  about  the  resumption  of  the  college  exercises. 
Mr.  John  Stewart,  Misses  Mary  and  Marian,  Mr.  Price  and 
his  daughters  came  over  from  the  Hot  yesterday  to  see 
me.  The  Stewarts  are  there  on  Miss  Belle's  account. 
Give  much  love  to  everybody.  I  hope  you  reached 
Lexington  safely  and  comfortably  and  that  all  are  well. 
I  hope  to  see  you  Monday.  Till  then,  farewell. 
"Very  truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  have  no  accounts  of  these 
rides,  the  people  he  met,  and  what  he  said  to  them,  where 
he  stayed,  and  who  were  his  hosts.  He  was  very  fond  of 
horseback  journeys,  enjoyed  the  quiet  and  rest,  the  free 
dom  of  mind  and  body,  the  close  sympathy  of  his  old  war- 
horse,  and  the  beauties  of  Nature  which  are  to  be  seen  at 
every  turn  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia.  Ah,  if  we  could 
only  obtain  some  records  of  his  thoughts  as  he  rode  all 
alone  along  the  mountain  roads,  how  much  it  would  help 
us  all  in  our  trials  and  troubles !  He  was  a  man  of  few 
words,  very  loath  to  talk  about  himself,  nor  do  I  believe 
any  one  ever  knew  what  that  great  heart  suffered.  His 
idea  of  life  was  to  do  his  duty,  at  whatever  cost,  and  to 
try  to  help  others  do  theirs. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN 

LEE'S  POLICY  AS  COLLEGE  PRESIDENT — HIS  ADVICE  ON 
AGRICULTURAL  MATTERS — HIS  AFFECTION  FOR  HIS 
PROSPECTIVE  DAUGHTER-IN-LAW — FITZHUGH's  WED 
DING — THE  GENERAL'S  OVATION  AT  PETERSBURG— 

HIS    PERSONAL    INTEREST    IN    THE    STUDENTS    UNDER 
HIS   CARE 

THE  college  exercises  were  resumed  in  the  last  weeks  of 
September.  My  mother  and  sisters  were  all  back  at 
home.  The  President's  work,  now  more  in  hand,  began 
to  show  results.  The  number  of  students  this  session  was 
largely  increased  and  the  outlook  of  the  college  was  very 
much  brighter. 

"  He  had  from  the  beginning  of  his  presidency  a  distinct 
policy  and  plan  which  he  had  fully  conceived  and  to  which 
he  steadily  adhered,  so  that  all  his  particular  measures  of 
progress  were  but  consistent  steps  in  its  development. 
His  object  was  nothing  less  than  to  establish  and  perfect 
an  institution  which  should  meet  the  highest  needs  of 
education  in  every  department.  At  once,  and  without 
waiting  for  the  means  to  be  provided  in  advance,  he  pro 
ceeded  to  develop  this  object.  Under  his  advice,  new 
chairs  were  created,  and  professors  called  to  fill  them,  so 
that  before  the  end  of  the  first  year  the  faculty  was  dou- 
K1^d  in  numbers.  Still  additional  chairs  were  created,  and 
Anally  a  complete  system  of '  schools '  was  established  and 
Drought  into  full  operation.  So  admirably  was  the  plan 

280 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  281 

conceived  and  administered  by  General  Lee,  that,  hetero 
geneous  as  were  the  students,  especially  in  the  early 
years,  each  one  found  his  proper  place,  and  all  were  kept 
in  line  of  complete  and  systematic  study.  Under  this 
organisation,  and  especially  under  the  inspiration  of  his 
central  influence,  the  utmost  harmony  and  utmost  energy 
pervaded  all  the  departments  of  the  college.  The  highest 
powers  of  both  professors  and  students  were  called  forth, 
under  the  fullest  responsibility.  The  standards  of  scholar 
ship  were  rapidly  advanced;  and  soon  the  graduates  of 
Washington  College  were  the  acknowledged  equals  of 
those  from  the  best  institutions  elsewhere,  and  were 
eagerly  sought  after  for  the  highest  positions  as  teachers 
in  the  best  schools.  The  results  .  .  .  were  due 
directly  and  immediately,  more  than  to  all  other  causes, 
to  the  personal  ability  and  influence  of  General  Lee  as 
president  of  the  college." 

So  wrote  Professor  Edward  S.  Joynes  in  an  article  pub 
lished  soon  after  General  Lee's  death,  in  the  University 
Monthly.  All  of  this  had  not  been  accomplished  as  yet, 
but  the  work  was  well  advanced,  and  the  results  began  to 
be  evident.  His  health  had  not  been  strong  since  the 
middle  of  the  summer,  but  he  never  ceased  in  his  en 
deavour  to  better  the  condition  of  the  college,  and  to 
improve  the  minds,  morals,  and  bodies  of  the  young  men 
committed  to  his  charge.  He  writes  to  me  about  this 
time,  encouraging  me  to  renewed  efforts,  telling  me  how 
to  better  my  condition,  and  advising  me  not  to  be  cast 
down  by  difficulties: 

11  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  October  26,  1867. 
"My  Dear  Rob:  Your  letter  of  the  loth  did  not  give 
me  a  very  favourable  account  of  yourself  or  your  pros 
pects,  but  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  true  and  therefore  com 
mendable.  We  must  not,  however,  yield  to  difficulties, 
but  strive  the  harder  to  overcome  them.  I  am  sorry  for 


282       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  failure  of  your  crops,  your  loneliness  and  uncom- 
fortableness,  and  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  visit  you 
and  advise  with  you.  But  you  must  come  up  this  winter, 
when  convenient,  and  we  will  discuss  the  whole  matter. 
Fitzhugh,  I  hope,  will  be  married  soon,  and  then  he  will 
have  more  time  to  counsel  with  you.  I  hope,  between  you 
two,  you  will  devise  some  mode  of  relief.  The  only  way  to 
improve  your  crop  is  to  improve  your  land,  which  requires 
time,  patience,  and  good  cultivation.  Lime,  I  think,  is  one 
of  the  chief  instruments,  and  I  advise  you  to  apply  that 
systematically  and  judiciously.  I  think,  too,  you  had 
better  purchase  another  pair  of  mules.  I  can  help  you 
in  these  items,  and,  if  you  need,  can  advance  you  $500. 
Then,  as  regards  a  house,  I  can  help  you  in  that  too,  but 
you  must  first  select  a  site  and  a  plan.  The  first  can  only 
be  found  on  the  land,  and  the  latter  might  be  adopted  on 
the  progressive  principle,  commencing  with  the  minor 
members,  and  finishing  with  the  principal  ones  as  con 
venience  or  necessity  might  authorise.  If  no  better  can 
be  found,  how  would  the  present  site  answer?  If  you 
are  going  to  cultivate  the  lower  part  of  the  farm,  it  would 
at  least  have  the  advantage  of  convenience,  or  if  you 
thought  it  better  to  divide  and  sell  your  farm  it  would 
answer  for  one  of  the  divisions.  I  arn  clear  for  your  mar 
rying,  if  you  select  a  good  wife ;  otherwise  you  had  better 
remain  as  you  are  for  a  time.  An  imprudent  or  uncon 
genial  woman  is  worse  than  the  minks  *.  I  think,  upon 
the  whole,  you  are  progressing  very  well  and  have  accom 
plished  the  worst  part.  A  failure  in  crops  will  occur  occa 
sionally  to  every  farmer,  even  the  best,  with  favourable 
surroundings.  It  serves  a  good  purpose,  inculcates  pru 
dence  and  economy,  and  excites  energy  and  perseverance. 
These  qualities  will  overcome  everything.  You  are  very 
young  still,  and  if  you  are  virtuous  and  laborious  you 
will  accomplish  all  the  good  you  propose  to  yourself. 
Let  me  know  if  you  want  the  money.  We  are  pretty 
well.  I  am  better  and  your  poor  mother  more  comforta- 

*I  had  written  to  him  that  they  had  destroyed  all  my  hens. 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  283 

ble,  I  think,  than  she  was  last  year.  The  girls  are  as 
usual,  and  Custis  is  in  far  better  health  than  he  was  before 
his  visit  to  the  Springs.  He  seems,  however,  not  happy, 
and  I  presume  other  people  have  their  troubles  as  well  as 
farmers.  God  bless  you,  my  son,  and  may  He  guard, 
guide,  and  direct  you  in  all  you  do.  All  would  unite  in 
love  did  they  know  I  was  writing. 

"Truly  and  affectionately,  your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
" ROBERT  E.  LEE,  JR." 

My  brother  Fitzhugh  was  to  be  married  that  autumn. 
This  event,  so  soon  to  take  place,  gave  my  father  great 
pleasure.  He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  matrimony, 
and  was  constantly  urging  his  sons  to  take  to  themselves 
wives.  With  his  daughters  he  was  less  pressing.  Though 
apparently  always  willing  to  have  another  daughter,  he 
did  not  seem  to  long  for  any  more  sons.  He  thus  writes 
to  my  brother  when  his  engagement  was  formally  an 
nounced  to  him: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  September  20,  1867. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  have  been  anxious  for  some  time 
to  write  to  you,  to  express  the  pleasure  I  have  felt  at  the 
prospects  of  your  marriage  with  Miss  Boiling;  but  sick 
ness  has  prevented,  and  I  am  still  so  feeble  that  I  cannot 
attend  to  the  pressing  business  connected  with  the  col 
lege.  As  you  know  how  deeply  I  feel  all  that  concerns 
you,  you  may  feel  assured  of  the  pleasure  I  derived  from 
your  letter  to  your  mother  informing  her  of  your  engage 
ment.  I  have  the  most  pleasing  recollection  of  'Miss 
Tabb,'  and  of  her  kindness  to  me,  and  now  that  she  has 
consented  to  be  my  daughter  the  measure  of  my  gratitude 
is  filled  to  overflowing.  I  hope  she  will  not  delay  the  con 
summation,  for  I  want  to  see  her  very  much,  and  I  fear 
she  will  not  come  to  see  me  until  then.  You  must  present 
her  my  warm  love,  and  you  both  must  accept  my  earnest 


284       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

prayers  and  most  fervent  wishes  for  your  future  happiness 
and  prosperity.  I  am  glad  that  your  house  is  progressing 
and  that  your  crops  promise  well.  I  hope  that  you  soon 
will  be  able  to  come  and  see  us.  Your  mother,  I  hope, 
has  derived  some  benefit  from  her  visit  to  the  Springs. 
Her  general  health  is  improved,  but  I  see  no  relaxation  in 
her  rheumatic  complaint.  The  girls  are  quite  well,  and 
all  send  love.  .  .  . 

"  Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"GENERAL  WILLIAM  H.  F.  LEE.*' 

The  young  lady  who  was  so  soon  to  become  a  member 
of  his  family  was  Miss  Mary  Tabb  Boiling,  the  daughter 
of  Mr.  G.  W.  Boiling,  of  Petersburg,  Virginia.  Her  father 
had  been  very  kind  to  General  Lee  during  the  eventful 
months  of  the  siege  of  that  town,  and  his  daughter  had 
been  often  to  see  him  and  was  a  great  favourite  of  his. 
My  brother  was  especially  anxious  that  his  father  should 
be  present  at  his  wedding,  and  had  been  urging  him  to 
make  his  arrangements  to  come.  The  sickness  to  which 
he  frequently  alludes  in  his  recent  letters  had  been  annoy 
ing  him  since  his  return  from  the  White  Sulphur  Springs 
up  to  this  time,  and  he  now  writes  proposing  that  my 
brother  and  bride  should  come  to  him  instead  of  his  going 
down  to  the  wedding: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  October  25,  1867. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  have  been  wishing  to  write  to 
you  every  day  since  the  reception  of  your  letter  of  the  6th 
inst.,  but  have  been  prevented  by  business  and  sickness. 
I  am  delighted  that  your  marriage  is  so  near  at  hand,  and 
it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  attend,  but  I  do  not 
think  that  I  could  add  to  the  enjoyment  of  any  one.  I 
suppose  it  will  take  place  in  church,  according  to  the  pres 
ent  fashion,  and  I  should  see  very  little  of  you.  I  there- 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  285 

fore  propose  that,  instead  of  going  directly  to  the  White 
House,  you  both  come  up  here,  and  spend  as  much 
time  with  us  as  you  can.  It  will  give  your  house  more 
time  for  completion,  and  I  suppose  the  pretty  bride  will 
want  to  see  her  old  father  and  mother  and  what  kind  of 
people  her  sisters  are.  At  any  rate,  I  want  to  see  her 
very  much,  and  I  should  be  unable  to  do  so  in  Petersburg, 
as  she  would  be  surrounded  by  her  old  beaux  and  com 
panions.  .  .  .  We  shall  all  be  delighted  to  see  you, 
and  you  may  go  back  as  soon  as  you  are  tired.  Tell  me 
what  you  think  of  this  plan.  There  is  another  thing  I 
wish  you  to  aid  me  in — to  tell  me  what  agreeable  present 
I  can  make  to  my  daughter  to  remind  her,  hereafter,  of 
her  papa,  or  if  I  send  you  $100  will  you  get  for  me  some 
thing  she  would  like  ?  I  have  been  quite  sick  lately,  but 
am  better  now.  The  rest  of  the  family  are  as  usual,  and 
your  mother,  I  hope,  is  more  comfortable  than  she  was 
last  year.  ...  I  am  very  glad  you  have  enjoyed 
good  health  all  the  summer,  and  hope  that  nothing  will 
occur  to  mar  the  happiness  of  your  wedding  or  to  post 
pone  it.  ...  Your  devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

My  brother,  after  receiving  this,  ran  up  to  Lexington 
and  paid  him  a  short  visit.  His  next  letter  shows  that 
he  had  yielded  to  his  wishes  and  had  determined  to  be 
present  at  his  wedding: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  November  15,  1867. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  received  this  morning  your  let 
ter  of  the  1 3th,  and  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival 
and  of  the  favourable  condition  of  things  at  your  home. 
I  was  afraid  your  house  would  not  be  ready  at  the  time 
supposed,  but  I  would  not  delay  the  wedding  on  that 
account — you  can  exist  without  it.  We  have  one  here  at 
your  service,  though  a  poor  one.  I  am  obliged  to  you  for 
having  arranged  about  my  clothes.  Upon  reflection,  I 
think  it  better  not  to  go  to  the  White  House  and  Roman- 


286       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

coke  before  the  wedding.  You  and  Robert  could  hardly 
pay  the  necessary  attention  to  business  matters  with  your 
hands  filled  with  love  and  matrimony.  I  think  of  catch 
ing  up  Rob  and  marrying  him  to  some  of  my  sweethearts, 
while  I  am  down,  so  as  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  going 
down  again.  Custis  says  it  will  be  inconvenient  for  him 
to  leave  here  before  the  time  necessary  for  him  to  reach 
Petersburg  by  the  28th,  and  we  have  arranged  to  com 
mence  our  journey  on  Monday  night,  2 5th  inst.,  at  12  M., 
so  as  to  reach  Richmond  Tuesday  evening,  remain  there 
the  2yth  and  go  to  Petersburg  the  28th.  I  do  not  think  I 
shall  be  able  to  go  to  the  White  House  at  all.  I  should 
not  be  able  to  aid  you  or  Rob,  my  only  object,  and  would 
put  you  to  much  trouble.  .  .  .  We  are  all  as  you 
left  us,  and  miss  you  and  Mildred  very  much. 

"Very  affectionately,  your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"GENERAL  WILLIAM  H.  F.  LEE." 

So  it  was  all  settled  satisfactorily ;  my  brother  gained 
his  point,  and  my  father  arranged  his  affairs  so  that  he 
could  absent  himself  without  detriment  to  his  work  at  the 
college.  He  left  on  the  appointed  day  and  hour,  and  the 
morning  after  arriving  in  Richmond,  writes  my  mother: 

"EXCHANGE  HOTEL,  RICHMOND,  November  26,  1867. 

"My  Dear  Mary:  We  reached  here  yesterday  about 
4  p.  M.,  after  a  not  uncomfortable  journey,  and  found 
Fitzhugh  waiting  for  the  important  event.  I  doubt 
whether  his  house  will  be  finished,  from  his  account,  till 
January,  though  he  thinks  it  will.  His  plans,  I  believe, 
as  far  as  he  can  form  them,  are  to  leave  Petersburg  the 
morning  after  the  wedding  for  Baltimore,  where  they 
will  probably  spend  a  week  gathering  up  their  furniture, 
etc.,  and  after  that  all  is  undetermined.  I  renewed  the 
invitation  for  their  visit  to  us,  but  he  could  not  decide. 
Robert  is  expected  to-morrow.  Mildred  is  well  and  seems 
to  be  perfectly  happy,  as  she  had  on,  last  evening,  a  dress 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  287 

about  two  yards  longer  than  Norvell's.  I  saw  Mr.  Davis, 
who  looks  astonishingly  well,  and  is  quite  cheerful.  He 
inquired  particularly  after  you  all.  He  is  at  Judge  Quid's. 
No  one  seems  to  know  what  is  to  be  done.  Judge  Chase 
had  not  arrived  yesterday,  but  it  was  thought  probable 
he  would  reach  here  in  the  ten  o'clock  train  last  night.  I 
have  not  heard  this  morning.  I  will  present  myself  to 
the  court  this  morning,  and  learn,  I  hope,  what  they  wish 
of  me.  Williams  Wickham  is  here,  and  will  attend  the 
wedding.  Annie  will  also  go.  Fitzhugh  is  to  go  out  to 
Hickory  Hill  this  morning,  and  return  this  afternoon,  to 
pay  his  adieux.  Mrs.  Caskie  was  not  well  last  evening. 
The  rest  as  usual,  and  send  much  love.  Custis  is  well, 
and  I  have  my  clothes.  I  left  my  sleeve-buttons  in  my 
shirt  hanging  up  in  my  dressing-room.  Ask  Cornelia  to 
to  take  care  of  them.  Mr.  Alexander  said  he  would  send 
you  up  some  turkeys,  and  Colonel  Johnston,  that  he  would 
help  you  revise  the  manuscript.  It  is  time  I  should  get 
my  breakfast,  as  I  wish  to  transact  some  business  before 
going  to  court.  Give  much  love  to  the  girls  and  every 
body.  I  hope  you  are  well  and  will  want  for  nothing 
while  I  am  away.  Most  truly  yours, 

"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE.  R.  E.  LEE." 

General  Lee  was  summoned  this  time  as  a  witness  in  the 
trial  of  Mr.  Davis,  but  after  some  delay  a  nolle  prosequi 
was  filed.  General  Lee  after  the  war  was  asked  by  a  lady 
his  opinion  of  the  position  and  part  Mr.  Davis  had  taken 
and  acted  during  the  war.  He  replied  : 

"  If  my  opinion  is  worth  anything,  you  can  always  say 
that  few  people  could  have  done  better  than  Mr.  Davis. 
I  knew  of  none  that  could  have  done  as  well." 

On  the  morning  after  the  wedding  he  writes  to  my 
mother : 

"PETERSBURG,  November  29,  1867. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:    Our  son  was  married  last  night  and 
shone  in  his  happiness.     The  bride  looked  lovely  and  was, 


288       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

in  every  way,  captivating.  The  church  was  crowded  to 
its  utmost  capacity,  and  the  streets  thronged.  Every 
thing  went  off  well,  and  I  will  enter  into  details  when  I  see 
you.  Mr.  Wickham  and  Annie,  Mr.  Fry,  John  Wood,  and 
others  were  present.  Mr.  Davis  was  prevented  from  at 
tending  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Howell.  The  Misses  Haxall, 
Miss  Enders,  Miss  Giles,  etc.,  came  down  from  Richmond. 
Fitzhugh  Lee  was  one  of  the  groomsmen,  Custis  very  com 
posed,  and  Rob  suffering  from  chills.  Many  of  my 
acquaintances  were  present,  and  everybody  was  very  kind. 
Regrets  were  often  expressed  that  you,  Mary,  and  Agnes 
were  not  present.  I  believe  the  plan  was  for  the  bride 
and  groom  to  start  on  their  travels  this  morning,  but  I 
doubt  whether  it  will  be  carried  out,  as  I  thought  I  saw 
indications  of  a  change  of  purpose  before  I  left,  which  I 
had  no  doubt  would  be  strengthened  by  the  reflections  of 
this  morning.  I  shall  remain  to-day  and  return  to  Rich 
mond  to-morrow.  I  wish  to  go  to  Brandon  Monday,  but 
do  not  know  that  I  can  accomplish  it.  Until  leaving 
Richmond,  my  whole  time  was  taken  up  by  the  august 
court,  so  that  I  could  do  nothing  nor  see  anybody  there. 
Mildred  was  all  life,  in  white  and  curls.  I  am  staying  at 
General  Mahone's  and  have  got  hold  of  one  of  his  needle- 
pens,  with  which  I  can  do  nothing.  Excuse  illegibility. 
No  one  has  descended  to  breakfast  yet.  I  received,  on 
arriving  here  yesterday,  at  3  P.  M.,  a  kind  note  from  our 
new  daughter  asking  me  to  come  and  see  her  as  soon  after 
my  arrival  as  convenient,  which  I  did  and  carried  over 
the  necklace,  which  she  pronounced  very  pretty.  Give 
my  love  to  all.  Most  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 

A  special  car  carried  General  Lee  and  the  other  wedding 
guests  from  Richmond  to  Petersburg.  He  did  not  enter 
into  the  gay  conversation  of  the  young  people,  but  ap 
peared  sad  and  depressed,  and  seemed  to  dread  seeing  the 
town  of  Petersburg  and  meeting  its  people.  This  feeling 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  289 

was  dispelled  by  the  enthusiastic  welcome  given  him  by 
every  one  there.  General  Mahone,  whose  guest  he  was 
to  be,  met  him  at  the  depot  with  a  carriage  and  four 
white  horses.  Many  of  the  citizens  tried  to  take  out 
the  horses  and  pull  the  carriage  into  the  town,  but  the 
General  protested,  declaring,  if  they  did  so,  he  would 
have  to  get  out  and  help  them.  The  morning  after  the 
wedding  he  drove  out  to  "Turnbull's"  to  see  an  old 
woman  who  had  been  very  kind  to  him,  sending  him  eggs, 
butter,  etc.,  when  he  had  had  his  headquarters  near  by 
during  the  siege.  On  his  return  he  took  lunch  at  Mr. 
Boiling's,  and  held  an  impromptu  reception,  everybody 
coming  in  to  speak  to  him. 

That  night  he  went  to  an  entertainment  given  to  the 
bride  at  Mr.  Johnson's.  He  enjoyed  the  evening  very 
much  and  expressed  his  feeling  of  relief  at  seeing  every  one 
so  bright  and  cheerful.  He  was  delighted  to  find  the 
people  so  prosperous,  and  to  observe  that  they  had  it  in 
their  hearts  to  be  gay  and  happy.  The  next  morning 
he  returned  to  Richmond.  He  was  escorted  to  the  train 
in  the  same  way  in  which  he  had  been  received.  All 
the  people  turned  out  to  see  him  leave,  and  he  departed 
amid  tremendous  cheering. 

My  father  enjoyed  this  visit.  It  had  been  a  success 
in  every  way.  His  old  friends  and  soldiers  called  on 
him  in  great  numbers,  all  eager  to  look  on  his  face  and 
clasp  his  hand  again.  The  night  of  the  wedding,  the 
streets  were  filled  with  crowds  anxious  to  see  him  once 
more,  and  many  to  look  on  him  for  the  first  time.  Wher 
ever  he  was  seen,  he  was  treated  with  the  greatest  love, 
admiration,  and  respect.  It  was  with  devotion,  deep, 
sincere,  and  true,  mixed  with  awe  and  sadness,  that  they 
beheld  their  old  commander,  on  foot,  in  citizen's  dress, 


29o       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

grayer  than  three  years  ago,  but  still  the  same,  passing 
along  the  ways  where  he  had  so  often  ridden  on  Traveller, 
with  the  noise  of  battle  all  around.  What  a  change  for 
him ;  what  a  difference  to  them !  But  their  trust  and 
faith  in  him  was  as  unshaken  as  ever.  A  glimpse  of  his 
feelings  at  this  time  is  shown  in  one  of  his  letters  written 
a  few  weeks  later,  which  I  will  give  in  its  proper  place. 
The  day  after  his  return  to  Richmond  he  writes  to  my 
mother : 

"RICHMOND,  December  i,  1867. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  returned  here  yesterday  with  Custis, 
Robert,  and  Fitz.  Lee.  We  left  Fitzhugh  and  his  bride 
in  Petersburg.  Mildred  is  with  them.  In  consequence 
of  being  told  that  the  new  couple  were  to  leave  Peters 
burg  the  morning  after  the  wedding,  I  had  made  my 
arrangements  to  return  here  Saturday.  If  I  had  known 
that  they  would  remain  till  Monday,  as  it  is  now  their 
intention,  I  should  have  made  my  arrangements  to  stay. 
Mildred  will  come  up  with  them  on  Monday  and  go  to 
Mrs.  Caskie's.  I  proposed  to  Custis,  Rob,  and  Fitz  to 
remain  in  Petersburg  till  that  time,  but  they  preferred 
coming  with  me.  I  shall  go  to  Brandon  to-morrow 
morning,  and  will  take  Custis  and  Robert  with  me.  I 
propose  to  return  here  Tuesday,  finish  my  business 
Wednesday,  spend  Thursday  at  Hickory  Hill,  take  pas 
sage  for  Lexington  Friday,  where  I  hope  to  arrive  Satur 
day.  As  far  as  I  could  judge,  our  new  daughter  will  go 
to  Baltimore  December  2d  and  probably  return  here 
the  following  Monday.  Fitzhugh  will  go  down  to  the 
White  House  during  the  week  and  make  arrangements 
for  their  sojourn  there.  He  can  go  down  in  the  morning 
and  return  in  the  evening.  I  repeated  our  invitation 
to  her  to  visit  us  on  their  return  from  Baltimore,  but 
she  said  Fitzhugh  thought  it  better  for  them  to  defer  it 
till  the  spring,  but  she  would  write  to  let  us  know.  I 
do  not  think  she  will  come  at  this  time,  for  she  is  in  that 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  291 

happy  state  which  causes  her  to  take  pleasure  in  doing 
what  she  thinks  he  prefers,  and  he,  I  think,  would  like  to 
go  to  the  White  House  and  arrange  for  the  winter.  I 
went  up  to  Caskie's  last  evening.  Saw  Norvell,  but  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Caskie  were  both  sick  upstairs.  The  latter  is 
better  than  when  I  last  wrote,  and  free  from  pain.  I  paid 
several  visits  yesterday  evening,  and  took  Rob  with  me. 
Mrs.  Triplett's,  Mrs.  Peebles',  Mrs.  Brander's,  Mrs.  J.  R. 
Anderson's.  At  the  latter  place  I  met  Mrs.  Robert 
Stannard,  who  looked,  I  thought,  remarkably  well.  She 
is  living  with  Hugh  (her  son) ,  on  his  farm.  I  also  went  to 
Mrs.  Dunlop's  and  saw  there  General  and  Miss  Jennie 
Cooper.  The  latter  looked  remarkably  well,  but  the 
former  is  very  thin.  They  will  remain  here  some  weeks. 
I  have  not  seen  Colonel  Allan  since  my  return  from  Peters 
burg,  but  am  told  that  he  is  better.  You  must  give  a 
great  deal  of  love  to  all  with  you.  I  am  very  anxious 
to  get  back,  and  I  hope  that  you  are  all  well.  It  is  very 
cold  here  this  morning,  and  ice  is  abundant.  Good-bye. 
"Truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


The  people  mentioned  here  as  those  he  called  on  were 
all  friends  living  in  Richmond,  with  whom  my  mother 
had  become  well  acquainted  during  her  stay  there,  in 
war  times.  There  were  many  others  he  went  to  see,  for 
I  remember  going  with  him.  He  sat  only  a  few  minutes 
at  each  place — "called  just  to  shake  hands,"  he  would 
say.  All  were  delighted  to  see  him.  From  some  places 
where  he  had  been  well  known  he  could  hardly  get 
away.  He  had  a  kind  word  for  all,  and  his  excuse  for 
hurrying  on  was  that  he  must  try  to  see  so  and  so,  as 
Mrs.  Lee  had  told  him  to  be  sure  to  do  so.  He  was  bright 
and  cheerful,  and  was  pleased  with  the  great  affection 
shown  him  on  all  sides. 

On  the  day  he  had  appointed — Monday,  the  2d  of  De- 


2 92       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

cember — we  started  in  the  morning  for  "  Brandon."  We 
took  the  steamer  down  James  River,  passing  through 
much  of  the  country  where  he  had  opposed  McClellan 
in  '62  and  Grant  in  '64.  Custis  and  I  were  with  him. 
He  said  very  little,  as  I  remember — nothing  about  the  war 
— but  was  interested  in  all  the  old  homesteads  along  the 
route,  many  of  which  he  had  visited  in  the  days  long 
ago  and  whose  owners  had  been  his  relatives  and  friends. 
He  expressed  great  regret  at  not  being  able  to  stop  at 
"Shirley,"  which  was  the  birthplace  and  home  of  his 
mother  before  she  married.  He  stayed  at  "  Brandon " 
one  night  only,  taking  the  same  boat  as  it  returned  next 
day  to  Richmond.  They  were  all  glad  to  see  him  and 
sorry  to  let  him  go,  but  his  plans  had  been  formed  before 
hand,  according  to  his  invariable  custom,  and  he  carried 
them  out  without  any  change.  Spending  one  day  in 
Richmond,  he  went  from  there  to  "  Hickory  Hill,"  thence 
to  Lexington,  arriving  there  the  Saturday  he  had  fixed  on. 
I  bade  him  and  my  brother  Custis  good-bye  in  Richmond, 
and  returned  to  my  home.  To  my  brother,  Fitzhugh, 
after  his  return  from  his  wedding  trip,  he  writes: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  December  21,  1867. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  was  very  glad  last  night  to 
receive  your  letter  of  the  i8th  announcing  your  return 
to  Richmond.  I  did  not  like  my  daughter  to  be  so  far 
away.  I  am  glad,  however,  that  you  had  so  pleasant  a 
visit,  which  has  no  doubt  prepared  you  for  the  enjoyments 
of  home,  and  will  make  the  repose  of  Xmas  week  in 
Petersburg  doubly  agreeable.  I  had  a  very  pleasant 
visit  to  Brandon  after  parting  with  you,  which  Custis  and 
Robert  seemed  equally  to  enjoy,  and  I  regretted  that  I 
could  only  spend  one  night.  I  passed  Shirley  both  going 
and  returning  with  regret,  from  my  inability  to  stop; 
but  Custis  and  I  spent  a  day  at  Hickory  Hill  on  our  way 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  293 

up  very  agreeably.  My  visit  to  Petersburg  was  ex 
tremely  pleasant.  Besides  the  pleasure  of  seeing  my 
daughter  and  being  with  you,  which  was  very  great,  I 
was  gratified  in  seeing  many  friends.  In  addition,  when 
our  armies  were  in  front  of  Petersburg  I  suffered  so  much 
in  body  and  mind  on  account  of  the  good  townspeople, 
especially  on  that  gloomy  night  when  I  was  forced  to 
abandon  them,  that  I  have  always  reverted  to  them  in 
sadness  and  sorrow.  My  old  feelings  returned  to  me,  as 
I  passed  well-remembered  spots  and  recalled  the  ravages 
of  the  hostile  shells.  But  when  I  saw  the  cheerfulness 
with  which  the  people  were  working  to  restore  their 
condition,  and  witnessed  the  comforts  with  which  they 
were  surrounded,  a  load  of  sorrow  which  had  been 
pressing  upon  me  for  years  was  lifted  from  my  heart. 
This  is  bad  weather  for  completing  your  house,  but  it 
will  soon  pass  away,  and  your  sweet  helpmate  will  make 
everything  go  smoothly.  When  the  spring  opens  and 
the  mocking-birds  resume  their  song  you  will  have  much 
to  do.  So  you  must  prepare  in  time.  You  must  give 
a  great  deal  of  love  for  me  to  all  at  Mr.  Boiling's,  to 
General  and  Mrs.  Mahone,  and  other  friends.  We  shall 
be  very  glad  when  you  can  bring  our  daughter  to  see  us. 
Select  the  time  most  convenient  to  you,  and  do  not  let 
it  be  long  distant.  Tell  her  I  wish  to  see  her  very  much, 
as  do  also  her  mama  and  sisters.  Your  mother  regrets 
that  you  did  not  receive  her  letter  in  answer  to  yours 
from  Baltimore.  She  wrote  the  day  of  its  reception,  and 
addressed  it  to  New  York,  as  you  directed.  The  box 
about  which  you  inquired  arrived  safely  and  was  much 
enjoyed.  Mary  is  in  Baltimore,  where  she  will  probably 
spend  the  winter.  As  I  am  so  far  from  Mildred,  it  will 
be  difficult  for  her  to  make  up  her  mind  when  to  return, 
so  that  the  whole  care  of  the  household  devolves  upon 
Agnes,  who  is  occupied  all  the  morning,  teaching  our 
niece,  Mildred.  .  .  .  God  bless  you  all  is  the  prayer 
of  Your  devoted  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"GENERAL  WM.  H.  F.  LEE." 


294       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

The  Christinas  of  1867  I  spent,  as  usual,  in  Lexington 
with  my  father.  He  had  been  president  of  the  college  now 
a  little  more  than  two  years.  The  number  of  professors 
and  students  had  largely  increased.  The  chapel  had 
been  built,  many  improvements  made  to  the  lecture- 
rooms  and  halls,  the  grounds  improved  by  the  laying  out 
of  new  roads  and  walks,  the  inclosures  renewed,  the 
grass  restored  to  the  campus,  and  new  shade  trees  set  out 
over  the  college  grounds.  The  increase  in  the  number  of 
professors  demanded  more  houses  for  them.  As  a  move 
in  this  direction,  the  trustees  decided  to  build  a  new 
house  for  the  president,  so  that  the  one  he  now  occupied 
could  be  used  for  one  of  the  faculty.  Accordingly,  the 
appropriation  of  a  sum  was  made,  and  my  father  was 
authorised  to  build  according  to  a  plan  of  his  own  selec 
tion.  He  took  a  keen  interest  in  this  matter,  and  at  once 
commenced  designing  a  new  "President's  House"  on  the 
lot  which  had  previously  been  occupied  by  an  old  building 
devoted  to  the  same  purpose.  This  house  was  completed 
in  the  summer  of  1869. 

The  endowment  fund  of  the  college  had  been  increased 
by  liberal  contributions  from  several  philanthropic 
persons,  and  also  by  a  better  investment  of  the  resources 
already  belonging  to  the  institution.  The  fees  from  the 
greater  number  of  students  also  added  much  to  its 
prosperity.  His  interest  in  the  students  individually  and 
collectively  was  untiring.  By  the  system  of  reports  made 
weekly  to  the  president,  and  monthly  to  the  parent  or 
guardian,  he  knew  well  how  each  one  of  his  charges  was 
getting  on,  whether  or  not  he  was  progressing,  or  even 
holding  his  own.  If  the  report  was  unsatisfactory,  the 
student  was  sent  for  and  remonstrated  with.  If  that  had 
no  effect,  the  parents  were  advised,  and  requested  to 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  295 

urge  the  son  to  try  to  do  better.  If  the  student  still 
persisted  in  wasting  his  time  and  money,  his  parents 
were  asked  to  call  him  home. 

As  illustrating  how  well  the  president  was  acquainted 
with  the  students,  and  how  accurate  was  his  remembrance 
of  their  individuality,  it  is  related  that  on  one  occasion  a 
name  was  read  out  in  faculty  meeting  which  was  un 
familiar  to  him.  He  asked  that  it  be  read  out  again, 
and  repeated  the  name  to  himself,  adding  in  a  tone  of 
self-reproach : 

"I  have  no  recollection  of  a  student  of  that  name. 
It  is  very  strange  that  I  have  forgotten  him.  I  thought 
I  knew  every  one  in  college.  How  long  has  he  been 
here?" 

An  investigation  proved  that  the  student  had  recently 
entered  during  his  absence,  and  that  he  had  never  seen 
him.  He  won  the  confidence  of  the  students,  and  very 
soon  their  affections.  He  regarded  a  mass  of  petty 
regulations  as  being  only  vexatious,  and  yet  by  his  tact 
and  firmness  his  discipline  became  most  effective. 
Very  seldom  was  there  any  breaking  of  the  laws.  He 
was  so  honoured  and  loved  that  they  tried  to  please  him 
in  all  things.  Of  course,  there  were  exceptions.  I  give 
here  some  letters  written  to  parents  and  guardians  which 
will  show  how  he  tried  to  induce  these  triflers  to  become 
men: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  25,  1866. 
"My  Dear  Sir:  I  am  very  glad  to  learn  from  your 
letter  of  the  i3th  inst.  that  you  have  written  your  son  in 
reference  to  his  neglect  of  his  studies.  I  am  sure  your 
letter  and  the  kind  admonition  of  his  mother  will  have 
a  beneficial  effect  upon  him.  I  have  myself  told  him  as 
plainly  but  as  kindly  as  I  could  that  it  was  necessary 


296       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

for  him  to  change  his  course,  or  that  he  would  be  obliged 
to  return  home.  He  has  promised  me  that  he  would 
henceforth  be  diligent  and  attentive,  and  endeavour  in 
all  things  to  perform  his  duty.  I  hope  that  he  may 
succeed,  for  I  think  he  is  able  to  do  well  if  he  really  makes 
the  effort.  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  inform  Mrs.  W. 
that  I  have  received  her  letter  of  the  i  Qth  ?  It  will  give 
me  pleasure  at  all  times  to  aid  her  son  in  every  way  I  can, 
but  if  he  desires  no  benefit  from  his  connection  with  the 
college  it  will  be  to  his  interest  to  return  home. 

"  Very  truly  your  obedient  servant,    R.  E.  LEE." 

Here  is  another  letter  showing  the  patience  and  for 
bearance  of  the  president  and  his  earnest  desire  to  help 
on  in  life  the  young  men  committed  to  his  charge : 

"WASHINGTON  COLLEGE, 
"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  April  20,  1868. 
"  My  Dear  Sir:  I  regret  to  see,  from  your  letter  of  the 
2 Qth  tilt.,  to  the  clerk  of  the  faculty,  that  you  have  mis 
understood  their  action  in  reference  to  your  son.  He 
was  not  dismissed,  as  you  suppose,  from  college,  but 
every  means  having  been  tried  by  the  faculty  to  induce 
him  to  attend  faithfully  and  regularly  to  his  studies, 
without  effect,  and  great  forbearance  having  been 
practised,  it  was  thought  best  for  him,  and  just  to  you, 
that  he  should  return  home.  The  action  of  the  faculty 
was  purposely  designed,  not  to  prevent  his  being  received 
into  any  other  college,  or  to  return  to  this,  should  you 
so  desire.  The  monthly  reports  are  intended  to  advise 
parents  of  the  progress  of  their  sons,  and  it  was  supposed 
you  would  have  seen  the  little  advancement  made  by 
yours  in  his  studies,  and  that  no  further  notice  was 
required.  The  action  of  the  faculty  was  caused  by  no 
immorality  on  his  part,  but  by  a  systematic  neglect  of  his 
duties,  which  no  counsel  on  the  part  of  his  professors,  or 
my  own,  could  correct.  In  compliance,  however,  with 
your  wishes,  and  on  the  positive  promise  of  amendment 


AN  ADVISER  OF  YOUNG  MEN  297 

on  the  part  of  your  son,  he  has  been  received  into  college, 
and  I  sincerely  hope  that  he  will  apply  himself  diligently 
to  his  studies,  and  make  an  earnest  effort  to  retrieve  the 
time  he  has  lost.  With  great  respect, 

"  Your  obedient  servant,  R.  E.  LEE." 

This  letter,  too,  shows  his  fatherly  interest : 

"WASHINGTON  COLLEGE, 
"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  19,  1868. 
"My  Dear  Sir:  Before  this  you  have  learned  the 
affecting  death  of  your  son.  I  can  say  nothing  to  mitigate 
your  grief  or  to  relieve  your  sorrow;  but  if  the  sincere 
sympathy  of  his  comrades  and  friends  and  of  the  entire 
community  can  bring  you  any  consolation,  I  can  assure 
you  that  you  possess  it  in  its  fullest  extent.  When  one, 
in  the  pureness  and  freshness  of  youth,  before  having  been 
contaminated  by  sin  or  afflicted  by  misery,  is  called  to 
the  presence  of  his  Merciful  Creator,  it  must  be  solely  for 
his  good.  As  difficult  as  this  may  be  for  you  now  to 
recognise,  I  hope  you  will  keep  it  constantly  in  your 
memory  and  take  it  to  your  comfort ;  and  I  pray  that  He 
who  in  His  wise  Providence  has  permitted  this  crushing 
sorrow  may  sanctify  it  to  the  happiness  of  all.  Your 
son  and  his  friend,  Mr.  Birely,  often  passed  their  leisure 
hours  in  rowing  on  the  river,  and,  on  last  Saturday  after 
noon,  the  4th  inst.,  attempted  what  they  had  more  than 
once  been  cautioned  against — to  approach  the  foot  of  the 
dam,  at  the  public  bridge.  Unfortunately,  their  boat  was 
caught  by  the  return-current,  struck  by  the  falling  water, 
and  was  immediately  upset.  Their  perilous  position  was 
at  once  seen  from  the  shore,  and  aid  was  hurried  to  their 
relief,  but  before  it  could  reach  them  both  had  perished. 
Efforts  to  restore  your  son's  life,  though  long  continued, 
were  unavailing.  Mr.  Birely's  body  was  not  found  until 
next  morning.  Their  remains  were,  yesterday,  Sunday, 
conveyed  to  the  Episcopal  church  in  this  city,  where 
the  sacred  ceremonies  for  the  dead  were  performed,  by  the 


298       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

Reverend  Dr.  Pendleton,  who  nineteen  years  ago,  at  the 
far-off  home  of  their  infancy,  placed  upon  them  their 
baptismal  vows.  After  the  service  a  long  procession  of 
the  professors  and  students  of  the  college,  the  officers  and 
cadets  of  the  Virginia  Military  Academy,  and  the  citizens 
of  Lexington  accompanied  their  bodies  to  the  packet- 
boat  for  Lynchburg,  where  they  were  placed  in  charge 
of  Messrs.  Wheeler  &  Baker  to  convey  them  to  Frederick 
City. 

"  With  great  regard  and  sincere  sympathy,  I  am, 

"Most  respectfully,  R.  E.  LEE." 


CHAPTER  XVII 
THE  RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD 

THE  GENERAL  BELIEVES  IN  THE  ENFORCEMENT  OF  LAW 
AND  ORDER — HIS  MORAL  INFLUENCE  IN  THE  COLLEGE 
— PLAYFUL  HUMOUR  SHOWN  IN  HIS  LETTERS — HIS 

OPINION     OF     NEGRO     LABOUR — MR.    DAVIS'S    TRIAL 

LETTER  TO  MRS.   FITZHUGH  LEE — INTERCOURSE  WITH 
FACULTY 

VIRGINIA  was  at  this  time  still  under  military  rule.  The 
"reconstruction"  days  were  not  over.  My  father  had 
himself  accepted  the  political  situation  after  the  war, 
and  had  advised  every  one  who  had  sought  his  advice 
to  do  the  same.  The  following  incident  and  letters  will 
show  his  acquiescence  in  the  law  of  the  land,  and  ready 
submission  to  the  authorities.  In  a  street  disturbance 
that  spring  a  student  had  been  shot  by  a  negro,  and  it 
was  reported  that,  in  case  of  the  young  man's  death,  the 
murderer  would  be  summarily  dealt  with  by  his  college- 
mates.  Captain  Wagner,  the  military  commissioner, 
wrote  to  General  Lee  informing  him  of  these  reports. 
He  received  the  following  reply : 

"  WASHINGTON  COLLEGE, 
"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  May  4,  1868. 
'*  CAPTAIN  WAGNER,  Commissioner  District, 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia. 

"Sir:  Upon  investigation  of  the  reports  which  you 
communicated  to  me  yesterday  afternoon,  I  can  find  no 
toundation  for  the  apprehension  that  the  students  of 


300       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

Washington  College  contemplate  any  attack  upon  the 

man  confined  in  jail  for  shooting  Mr.  Friday  night. 

On  the  contrary,  I  have  been  assured  by  members  of 
the  faculty  and  individual  students  that  they  have  heard 
no  suggestion  of  the  kind,  and  they  believe  that  no  such 
intention  has  been  entertained  or  now  exists.  I  think, 
therefore,  the  reports  made  to  you  are  groundless. 
"Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

However,  in  order  to  take  all  precautions  and  provide 
against  any  disturbance,  he  wrote  as  follows  to  the  presi 
dent  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  whom  he 
knew  and  trusted,  and  who  was  a  man  of  much  influence 
with  his  fellow-students: 

"MR.  G.  B.  STRICKLER, 

"President  Young  Men's  Christian  Association, 

"Washington  College. 

"  I  have  just  been  informed  by  Captain  Wagner,  Mili 
tary  Commissioner  of  this  district,  that  from  information 
received  by  him,  he  had  reason  to  apprehend  that,  should 
the  wound  received  by  Mr.  —  -  Friday  night  prove  fatal, 
the  students  of  Washington  College  contemplate  taking 
from  the  jail  the  man  who  shot  him  and  inflicting  upon 
him  summary  punishment.  I  cannot  believe  that  any 
such  act  is  intended  or  would  be  allowed  by  the  students 
of  Washington  College,  though  it  is  possible  that  such  an 
intention  may  have  been  spoken  of  amongst  them.  I 
think  it  only  necessary  to  call  the  attention  of  the  students 
to  the  report  to  prevent  such  an  occurrence.  I  feel  con 
vinced  that  none  would  countenance  such  outrage  against 
law  and  order,  but  that  all  will  cheerfully  submit  to  the 
administration  of  justice  by  the  legal  authorities  As 
the  readiest  way  of  communicating  with  the  students,  at 
this  hour,  on  Sunday,  I  have  concluded  to  address  you 
this  letter  that  through  the  members  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  the  students  generally  may  be 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION   PERIOD          301 

informed  of  the  apprehension  entertained  by  the  military 
authorities ;  and  I  earnestly  invoke  the  students  to  abstain 
from  any  violation  of  law,  and  to  unite  in  preserving  quiet 
and  order  on  this  and  every  occasion. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  young  man  recovered,  there  was  no  disturbance  of 
any  kind,  nor  was  it  believed  that  there  would  have  been, 
after  this  appeal  from  the  president,  even  if  the  wound 
had  proved  fatal. 

"  Nor  was  it  a  moral  influence  alone  that  he  exerted  in 
the  college.     He  was  equally  careful  of  the  intellectual 
interests.     He    watched    the    progress    of    every    class, 
attended  all  the  examinations,  and  strove  constantly  to 
stimulate  both  professors  and  students  to  the  highest 
attainments.     The   whole   college,    in   a   word,    felt   his 
influence  as  an  ever-present  motive,  and  his  character  was 
quietly  but  irresistibly  impressed  upon  it,  not  only  in  the 
general  working  of  all  its  departments,  but  in  all  the 
details  of  each.     Of  this  influence  General  Lee,  modest 
as  he  was,  was  perfectly  aware,  and,  like  a  prudent  ruler, 
he  husbanded  it  with  wise  economy.     He  preferred  to  con- 
confine  his  direct  interposition  to  purely  personal  acts, 
and  rarely — and  then  only  on  critical  occasions — did  he 
step  forward  to  present  himself  before  the  whole  body  of 
students  in  the  full  dignity  of  his  presidential  office.     On 
these  occasions,  which  in  the  latter  years  hardly  ever 
occurred,  he  would  quietly  post  an  address  to  the  students, 
in  which,  appealing  only  to  the  highest  principles  of  con 
duct,  he  sought  to  dissuade  them  from  threatened  evil. 
The  addresses,  which  the  boys  designated  as  his  '  general 
orders,'  were  always  of  immediate  efficacy.     No  single 
case  ever  occurred  in  which  they  failed  of  instant  and 
complete  effect;    and  no  student  would  have  been  tole 
rated  by  his  fellow-students  who  would  have  dared  to  dis 
regard  such  an  appeal  from  General  Lee."* 

*  Professor  Joynes  in   University  Monthly. 


302       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

My  father  had  recovered  from  the  spell  of  sickness  of 
the  previous  summer  at  the  Old  Sweet  Springs,  which  had 
weakened  and  depressed  him  until  about  the  time  he 
attended  my  brother's  wedding.  That  marriage  had 
been  a  great  joy  to  him.  His  trip  there  and  back,  and  his 
visits  to  "Brandon"  and  "Hickory  Hill,"  the  change  of 
climate  and  scene,  seeing  old  friends  and  new  places,  had 
all  contributed  to  benefit  his  health  and  spirits.  I  remem 
ber  this  Christmas  of  1867  ne  seemed  particularly  bright 
and  cheerful.  I  give  a  letter  he  wrote  me  after  I  had  left 
for  my  home  which  reflects  his  playful  humour  and  good 
spirits : 


"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  23,  1868. 
"My  Dear  Robert:  I  inclose  a  letter  which  has  just 
arrived  in  the  mail.  It  seems  to  be  from  a  nice  young 
lady,  judging  from  the  style  and  address.  I  hope  she  is 
the  right  one  and  that  her  response  is  favourable.  Put 
in  a  good  crop,  and  recollect  you  may  have  two  to  feed 
after  harvest.  We  are  doing  what  we  can  in  this  region 
to  supply  the  springs  and  streams  that  form  the  lowland 
rivers.  It  is  still  raining,  though  the  snow  and  ice  have 
not  left  us.  After  your  departure,  Mr.  Gordon  brought 
to  me  a  letter  from  Fitzhugh  to  your  mother  which  had 
come  in  the  Sunday  mail  and  was  overlooked  among  the 
papers.  I  am  sorry  it  had  not  been  found  before  you  left, 
as  you  would  have  known  their  plans.  Tell  them  I  am 
sorry  not  to  have  seen  them.  We  miss  you  very  much. 
'  Life '  has  it  all  her  own  way  now,  and  expends  her  energy 
in  regulating  her  brother  and  putting  your  mother's 
drawers  and  presses  to  rights.  It's  her  only  vent,  and 
furnishes  exercise  for  body  and  mind.  There  is  to  be  a 
great  fete  in  your  mother's  room  to-day.  The  Grace 
Church  Sewing  Society  is  to  meet  there  at  10  A.  M. — that 
is,  if  the  members  are  impervious  to  water.  I  charged 
the  two  Mildreds  to  be  seated  with  their  white  aprons  on 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD  303 

and  with  scissors  and  thimbles  in  hand.     I  hope  they 
may  have  a  refreshing  time.     Good-bye. 

"  Your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"ROBERT  E.  LEE." 

The  second  Mildred  mentioned  here  was  my  father's 
niece,  daughter  of  Charles  Carter  Lee.  She  was  living 
with  my  father  at  this  time,  going  to  school,  and  was, 
like  her  cousin  the  other  Mildred,  not  very  fond  of  her 
needle.  His  nickname  for  her  was  "  Powhattie,"  derived, 
I  presume,  from  her  native  County  of  Powhatan.  He 
was  very  fond  of  teasing  her  in  his  playful  way.  Indeed, 
we  all  enjoyed  that  attention  from  him.  He  never  teased 
any  one  whom  he  did  not  specially  like. 

To  his  new  daughter  I  find  the  following  letter,  written 
at  this  time,  in  which  he  shows  his  affection  and  admira 
tion  for  her: 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  10,  1868. 
"  My  Beautiful  Daughter:  I  have  been  wishing  to  write 
to  you  for  a  long  time,  but  have  supposed  that  you  would 
be  so  engrossed  with  my  sons,  with  their  plans  and  their 
projects,  that  you  could  not  lend  an  ear  to  your  papa. 
But  now  I  must  tell  you  how  much  I  have  thought  of  you, 
how  much  I  want  to  see  you,  and  how  greatly  I  was  dis 
appointed  at  your  not  getting  to  see  us  at  the  time  you 
proposed.  You  must  not  postpone  your  visit  too  long, 
or  you  may  not  find  us  here.  Our  winter,  which  has  been 
long  and  cold,  I  hope  now  is  over.  The  gardeners  are 
busy,  the  grass  is  growing  green,  and  the  atmosphere 
warm  and  inspiring.  I  presume  under  its  genial  influ 
ence  you  and  Fitzhugh  are  busy  improving  your  new 
home.  I  hope  everythmg  is  agreeable,  and  that  you  are 
becoming  more  and  more  interested  in  making  those 
around  you  happy.  That  is  the  true  way  to  secure  your 
own  happiness,  for  which  my  poor  prayers  are  daily 


3o4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

offered  to  the  throne  of  the  Most  High.  I  have  been 
summoned  to  Richmond  the  third  Thursday  in  this 
month,  as  a  witness  in  the  trial  against  Mr.  Davis;  and 
though  that  will  be  a  painful  errand  for  me,  I  hope  that  it 
will  give  me  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you.  I  will  endeavour 
to  get  down  some  day  to  the  White  House,  if  it  is  only  to 
spend  Sunday  with  you.  I  hope  that  you  will  be  able  to 
pay  some  attention  to  your  poor  brother  Robert.  Do 
not  let  his  elder  brother  monopolise  you  altogether.  You 
will  have  to  take  care  of  both  till  you  can  find  some  one 
like  yourself  to  take  Romancoke  in  hand.  Do  you  think 
Miss  Anne  Banister  will  consent?  Mildred,  you  know, 
is  the  only  one  of  the  girls  who  has  been  with  us  this 
winter.  She  has  consequently  had  her  hands  full,  and 
considers  herself  now  a  great  character.  She  rules  her 
brother  and  my  nephews  with  an  iron  rod,  and  scatters 
her  advice  broadcast  among  the  young  men  of  the  college. 
I  hope  that  it  may  yield  an  abundant  harvest.  The 
young  mothers  of  Lexington  ought  to  be  extremely  grate 
ful  to  her  for  her  suggestions  to  them  as  to  the  proper  mode 
of  rearing  their  children,  and  though  she  finds  many  un 
able  to  appreciate  her  system,  she  is  nothing  daunted  by 
their  obtuseness  of  vision,  but  takes  advantage  of  every 
opportunity  to  enlighten  them  as  to  its  benefits.  Mary 
and  Agnes  are  still  in  Baltimore,  and  are  now  at  the  house 
of  Mrs.  Charles  Howard.  Agnes  expects,  I  believe,  to  re 
turn  to  the  Peters  near  Ellicott  City,  and  then  go  over  to 
the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland  to  visit  the  Goldsboroughs 
and  other  friends.  I  hardly  think  either  of  them  will  get 
back  before  June.  I  have  recently  received  a  very  pretty 
picture  from  a  young  lady  of  Baltimore,  Miss  Mary  Jones, 
whom  I  met  last  summer  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs. 
In  one  of  my  morning  rides  to  the  Beaver-dam  Falls,  near 
the  Sweet  Springs,  I  found  her  at  the  foot  of  the  Falls 
making  a  sketch  of  the  scene,  and  on  her  return  home  she 
finished  it  and  has  sent  it  to  me.  It  is  beautifully  painted 
and  is  a  faithful  representation  of  the  Falls.  I  think  you 
will  be  pleased  with  it  when  you  come  up,  and  agree  with 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION   PERIOD          305 

me  in  the  opinion  that  it  is  the  principal  ornament  of  our 
parlour.  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  your  poor  mama 
has  been  suffering  more  than  usual  lately  from  her  rheu 
matic  pains.  She  took  cold  in  some  way,  which  produced 
a  recurrence  of  her  former  pangs,  though  she  is  in  a  meas 
ure  now  relieved.  We  often  wish  for  you  and  Fitzhugh. 
My  only  pleasure  is  in  my  solitary  evening  rides,  which 
give  me  abundant  opportunity  for  quiet  thought.  With 
a  great  deal  of  love  to  your  husband,  I  am  your  sincerely 
attached  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  WILLIAM  H.  FITZHUGH  LEE." 

The  next  letter  I  find  is  a  reply  to  one  of  mine,  in  which 
I  evidently  had  been  confiding  to  him  my  agricultural 
woes: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  12,  1868. 
"My  Dear  Rob:  I  am  sorry  to  learn  from  your  letter  of 
the  ist  that  the  winter  has  been  so  hard  on  your  wheat. 
I  hope,  however,  the  present  good  weather  is  shedding  its 
influence  upon  it,  and  that  it  will  turn  out  better  than  it 
promises.  You  must,  however,  take  a  lesson  from  the 
last  season.  What  you  do  cultivate,  do  well.  Improve 
and  prepare  the  land  in  the  best  manner ;  your  labour  will 
be  less,  and  your  profits  more.  Your  fiat  lands  were 
always  uncertain  in  wet  winters.  The  uplands  were  more 
sure.  Is  it  not  possible  that  some  unbidden  guest  may 
have  been  feasting  on  your  corn?  Six  hundred  bushels 
are  a  large  deficit  in  casting  up  your  account  for  the  year. 
But  you  must  make  it  up  by  economy  and  good  manage 
ment.  A  farmer's  motto  should  be  toil  and  trust.  I  am 
glad  that  you  have  got  your  lime  and  sown  your  oats  and 
clover.  Do  you  use  the  drill  or  sow  broadcast  ?  I  shall 
try  to  get  down  to  see  you  if  I  go  to  Richmond,  for  I  am 
anxious  to  know  how  you  are  progressing  and  to  see  if  in 
any  way  I  can  aid  you.  Whenever  I  can,  you  must  let 
me  know.  You  must  still  think  about  your  house  and 


3o6       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

make  up  your  mind  as  to  the  site  and  kind,  and  collect  the 
material.  I  can  help  you  to  any  kind  of  plan,  and  with 
some  ready  money  to  pay  the  mechanics.  I  have  recently 
had  a  visit  from  Dr.  Oliver,  of  Scotland,  who  is  examining 
lands  for  immigrants  from  his  country.  He  seems  to  be 
a  sensible  and  judicious  man.  From  his  account,  I  do 
not  think  the  Scotch  and  English  would  suit  your  part  of 
the  country.  It  would  require  time  for  them  to  become 
acclimated,  and  they  would  probably  get  dissatisfied, 
especially  as  there  is  so  much  mountainous  region  where 
they  could  be  accommodated.  I  think  you  will  have  to 
look  to  the  Germans ;  perhaps  the  Hollanders,  as  a  class, 
would  be  the  most  useful.  When  the  railroad  shall  have 
been  completed  to  West  Point,  I  think  there  will  be  no 
difficulty  in  getting  the  whites  among  you.  I  would  try- 
to  get  some  of  our  own  young  men  in  your  employ.  I 
rode  out  the  other  day  to  Mr.  Andrew  Cameron's  and 
went  into  the  field  where  he  was  plowing.  I  took  great 
pleasure  in  following  the  plows  around  the  circuit.  He 
had  four  in  operation.  Three  of  them  were  held  by  his 
former  comrades  in  the  army,  who  are  regularly  employed 
by  him,  and,  he  says,  much  to  his  satisfaction  and  profit. 
People  have  got  to  work  now.  It  is  creditable  to  them  to 
do  so;  their  bodies  and  their  minds  are  benefited  by  it, 
and  those  who  can  and  will  work  will  be  advanced  by  it. 
You  will  never  prosper  with  the  blacks,  and  it  is  abhor 
rent  to  a  reflecting  mind  to  be  supporting  and  cherishing 
those  who  are  plotting  and  working  for  your  injury,  and 
all  of  whose  sympathies  and  associations  are  antagonistic 
to  yours.  I  wish  them  no  evil  in  the  world — on  the  con 
trary,  will  do  them  every  good  in  my  power,  and  know 
that  they  are  misled  by  those  to  whom  they  have  given 
their  confidence;  but  our  material,  social,  and  political 
interests  are  naturally  with  the  whites.  Mr.  Davis's  trial 
was  fixed  for  the  last  of  this  month.  If  Judge  Chase's 
presence  is  essential,  I  do  not  see  how  it  can  take  place, 
unless  that  of  Mr.  Johnson  is  to  be  postponed.  I  suppose 
that  will  be  decided  to-day  or  to-morrow,  and  then  I  shall 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD         307 

know  what  to  expect.  I  shall  not  go  to  Richmond  unless 
necessary,  as  it  is  always  inconvenient  for  me  to  leave 
home,  and  I  am  not  at  all  well.  Your  poor  mother  is  also 
more  ailing  than  she  is  ordinarily,  in  consequence  of  a  cold 
she  has  taken.  But  it  is  passing  away,  I  trust.  I  must 
leave  you  to  her  and  Mildred  for  all  local  and  domestic 
news.  Custis  and  the  boys  are  well,  and  'Powhattie,'  I 
hope,  has  got  rid  of  the  chills.  We  hear  regularly  from 
Mary  and  Agnes,  who  seem  to  be  enjoying  themselves, 
and  I  do  not  think  from  their  programme  that  they  will 
get  back  to  us  till  summer.  All  unite  in  much  love,  and  I 
am  always,  Your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

This  same  month  he  writes  a  long  letter  to  his  daugh 
ter  Agnes,  who  was  visiting  friends  in  Baltimore.  The 
Annette,  Mildred,  and  Mary  he  mentions  in  this  letter  were 
the  daughters  of  Charles  Henry  Carter,  of  "Goodwood," 
Maryland,  a  first  cousin  of  my  father : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  28,  1868. 
"  My  Precious  Agnes:  I  was  so  glad  to  receive  your  let 
ter,  to  learn  that  you  were  well  and  enjoying  yourself 
among  pleasant  friends.  I  hope  that  you  will  soon  get 
through  all  your  visits  and  come  home.  Your  uncle 
Smith  says  you  girls  ought  to  marry  his  sons,  as  you  both 
find  it  so  agreeable  to  be  from  home,  and  you  could 
then  live  a  true  Bohemian  life  and  have  a  happy  time 
generally.  But  I  do  not  agree  with  him ;  I  shall  not  give 
my  consent,  so  you  must  choose  elsewhere.  I  have  writ 
ten  to  Annette  telling  her  of  my  alarm  for  her.  Now  that 
Mildred  is  engaged,  and  she  sees  how  much  Mary  is  in 
love,  I  fear  she  will  pick  up  an  Adonis  next,  so  that  she 
had  better  run  away  to  the  mountains  at  once.  I  am  glad 
that  you  saw  Mr.  Davis.  It  is  a  terrible  thing  to  have 
this  prosecution  hanging  over  him,  and  to  be  unable  to 
fix  his  thoughts  on  a  course  of  life  or  apply  his  hands  to 
the  support  of  his  family.  But  I  hope  a  kind  Providence 


308       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

will  shield  and  guide  him.  You  must  remember  me  to 
all  my  friends,  the  Taggarts,  Glenns,  McKims,  Marshalls, 
etc.  .  .  .  As  to  the  young  ladies  you  mention,  you 
must  tell  them  that  I  want  to  see  them  very  much,  and 
hope  that  they  will  all  come  to  the  mountains  this  sum 
mer,  and  not  pass  us  by  in  Lexington.  When  you  go  to 
'  Goodwood '  and  the  Eastern  Shore,  do  the  same  there  for 
me,  and  present  me  to  all  by  name.  Tell  sweet  Sallie 
Warwick  I  think  she  ought  to  come  to  Lexington,  if  only 
to  show  those  babies ;  but  in  truth  I  want  to  see  her  more 
than  them,  so  she  may  leave  them  with  Major  Poor*,  if 
she  chooses.  You  must  see  everybody  you  wish  and 
enjoy  yourself  as  much  as  you  can,  and  then  come  home. 
I  told  Mildred  to  tell  you  if  you  wanted  any  funds  you 
must  let  me  know  and  where  to  send  them.  I  do  not 
know  whether  she  delivered  my  message.  She  has  become 
very  imperious,  and  may  not  think  you  require  any.  She 
has  been  much  exercised  of  late  on  the  score  of  servants, 
but  hopes  to  get  some  relief  on  the  ist  proximo  from  the 
promised  change  of  Miss  Mary  Dixon  to  Miss  Eliza  Cyrus. 
I  hope  her  expectations  may  be  realised.  Little  Mildred 
has  had  a  return  of  her  chills.  It  has  been  a  sharp  attack, 
and  though  it  has  been  arrested,  when  I  left  her  this 
morning  I  feared  she  might  have  a  relapse,  as  this  is  her 
regular  day.  She  was  looking  remarkably  well  before  it 
came  on,  better  than  she  had  ever  done,  but  every  cold 
terminates  in  this  way,  however  slight  it  may  be.  Colds 
have  been  quite  prevalent,  and  there  have  been  two  deaths 
among  the  cadets  from  pneumonia.  Fortunately  so  far 
the  students  have  escaped.  I  am  relieved  of  mine  I 
hope,  and  your  poor  mother  is,  I  hope,  better.  The  storm 
seems  to  have  subsided,  and  I  trust  the  bright  weather 
may  ameliorate  her  pains.  Custis,  Mildred,  and  the  boys 
are  well,  as  are  most  of  our  friends  in  Lexington.  .  .  . 
Fitzhugh  writes  that  everything  is  blooming  at  the 
'White  House,'  and  that  his  wheat  is  splendid.  I  am  in 
hopes  that  it  is  all  due  to  the  presence  of  my  fair  daugh- 

*  Her  husband. 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION   PERIOD          309 

ter.  Rob  says  that  things  at  Romancoke  are  not  so  pros 
perous — you  see,  there  is  no  Mrs.  R.  E.  Lee,  Jr.,  there,  and 
that  may  make  the  difference.  Cannot  you  persuade 
some  of  those  pretty  girls  in  Baltimore  to  take  compassion 
on  a  poor  bachelor  ?  I  will  give  them  a  plan  for  a  house, 
if  they  will  build  it.  .  .  .  All  would  unite  with  me  in 
love  if  they  knew  I  was  writing.  You  ought  to  be  here  to 
enjoy  the  birds  Captain  O.  C.  H.  sends  us.  With  much 
love  for  yourself,  and  my  poor  prayers  for  your  happiness, 
I  am,  Your  devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 


A  few  days  afterward  he  writes  to  his  son  Fitzhugh, 
who  was  now  established  very  happily  in  his  new  house, 
and  warns  him  not  to  depend  entirely  on  sentiment,  but 
to  arrange  for  something  material.  He  also  speaks  of 
Mr.  Davis  and  his  trial,  which  was  continually  being 
postponed,  and  in  the  end  was  dismissed,  and  gives  him 
some  good  advice  about  importing  cattle : 

LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  30,  1868. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your 
letter  of  the  igth,  and  as  you  are  aware  of  the  order  of 
the  court  postponing  Mr.  Da  vis's  trial  till  the  i4th  proximo, 
I  presume  that  you  have  not  been  expecting  me  down.  I 
see  it  stated  in  the  Washington  Star  that  the  trial  is  again 
postponed  till  May  4th,  but  I  have  seen  as  yet  no  order 
from  the  court.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  went  from  Baltimore 
to  New  York  on  Tuesday  last,  and  were  to  go  on  to 
Canada.  He  said  that  he  did  not  know  what  he  should 
do  or  what  he  could  turn  his  hands  to  for  a  support. 
As  long  as  this  trial  is  hanging  over  him,  of  course,  he  can 
do  nothing.  He  can  apply  his  mind  to  nothing,  nor 
could  he  acquire  the  confidence  of  the  business  community 
in  anything  he  might  undertake,  from  the  apprehension  of 
his  being  interrupted  in  the  midst  of  it.  Agnes  and 
Mary  saw  them  as  they  passed  through  Baltimore. 


3io       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

They  say  Mr.  Davis  was  well,  though  he  had  changed  a 
great  deal  since  they  saw  him  last.  I  am  very  glad  that 
you  are  so  pleased  with  your  house.  I  think  it  must  be 
my  daughter  that  gives  it  such  a  charm.  I  am  sure  that 
she  will  make  everything  look  bright  to  me.  It  is  a  good 
thing  that  the  wheat  is  doing  so  well,  for  I  am  not  sure 
'that  the  flame  you  are  so  rich  in  will  light  a  fire  in  the 
kitchen,  nor  the  little  god  turn  the  spit,  spit,  spit/  Some 
material  element  is  necessary  to  make  it  burn  brightly 
and  furnish  some  good  dishes  for  the  table.  Shad  are 
good  in  their  way,  but  they  do  not  run  up  the  Pamunkey 
all  the  year.  I  am  glad  that  you  are  making  arrange 
ments  for  some  cows,  and  think  you  are  right  in  getting 
those  of  the  best  breed.  It  used  to  be  thought  that 
cows  from  the  North  would  not  prosper  in  that  lower 
country,  and  indeed  cows  from  the  upper  part  of  Virginia 
did  not  succeed  well,  but  were  apt  to  become  sick  and  die ; 
and  that  the  surest  process  to  improve  the  stock  was  to 
purchase  calves  of  good  breed  and  cross  on  the  native 
stock.  You  must,  therefore,  be  careful  and  not  invest 
too  much.  We  have  had  a  cold  winter,  and  March  has 
been  particularly  harsh.  Still,  vegetation  is  progressing 
and  the  wheat  around  Lexington  looks  beautiful.  My 
garden  is  advancing  in  a  small  way.  Pease,  spinach,  and 
onions  look  promising,  but  my  hot-bed  plants  are  poor. 
The  new  house,  about  which  you  inquire,  is  in  statu  quo 
before  winter.  I  believe  the  money  is  wanting  and  the 
workmen  cannot  proceed.  We  require  some  of  that 
latter  article  here,  as  elsewhere,  and  have  but  little. 
.  .  .  I  heard  of  you  in  Richmond  the  other  day,  but 
did  not  learn  whether  my  daughter  was  with  you.  I 
wish  you  would  send  her  up  to  her  papa  when  you  go 
away.  With  much  love, 

"Your  devoted  father,  R.  E.  LEE." 

A  month  later  he  writes  me,  telling  me  that  he  expects 
to  be  in  Richmond  the  following  week,  and  will  try  to  get 
down  to  see  us;  also  telling  of  his  garden,  and  horse,  and, 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION   PERIOD          311 

as  he  always  did,  encouraging,  cheering  me,  and  offering 
help: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  April  25,    1868. 

"  My  Dear  Rob :  Your  letter  of  the  2 1  st  is  just  received. 
I  am  very  glad  that  your  wheat  is  improving  in  ap 
pearance,  and  hope  that  at  harvest  it  will  yield  a  fair 
return  for  your  care  and  labour.  Your  corn  I  am  sure 
will  be  more  remunerative  than  the  crop  of  last  year,  and 
I  trust  that  at  the  end  of  the  year  you  will  find  you  have 
advanced  in  the  field  of  agriculture.  Your  mule  and 
provender  was  a  heavy  loss.  You  must  make  it  up. 
Replace  the  first  by  a  good  one  and  I  will  pay  for  it.  I 
hope  the  warm  sun  will  bring  forward  the  grass  to  supply 
the  latter.  Should  I  go  to  Richmond,  next  week,  as  I 
now  expect,  I  will  be  prepared  to  pay  for  the  mule,  and 
if  I  do  not  I  will  send  you  a  check  for  the  amount.  I  am 
sorry  to  hear  that  you  have  not  been  well.  You  must 
get  out  of  that  too.  .  .  .  You  must  refresh  yourself 
when  you  can  by  going  up  to  the  White  House  to  see 
your  brother  and  sister.  Take  a  good  look  at  the  latter 
for  me.  .  .  .  In  our  garden  nothing  is  up  but  the 
hardy  plants,  pease,  potatoes,  spinach,  onions,  etc.  . 
Beets,  carrots,  salsify,  etc.,  have  been  sown  a  long  time, 
but  are  not  up,  and  I  cannot  put  in  the  beans,  squash, 
etc.,  or  set  out  the  hot-bed  plants.  But  we  can  wait. 
I  have  not  been  as  well  this  winter  as  usual,  and  have 
been  confined  of  late.  I  have  taken  up  Traveller,  how 
ever,  who  is  as  rough  as  a  bear,  and  have  had  two  or  three 
rides  on  him,  in  the  mud,  which  I  think  has  benefited  me. 
Mildred  sometimes  accompanies  me.  Your  mother,  I 
am  glad  to  say,  is  better.  She  has  less  pain  than  when  I 
last  wrote,  and  is  more  active  on  her  crutches.  .  .  . 
Good-bye,  my  dear  son.  If  I  go  to  Richmond  I  will  try 
to  get  to  see  you. 

"Affectionately  your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 

"R.  E.  LEE,  JR." 


3i2       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

My  father  came  to  Richmond,  summoned  to  attend  the 
trial  of  Mr.  Davis,  but  when  he  arrived  he  found  that  it 
was  again  postponed.  So  he  went  to  the  White  House 
and  spent  several  days.  I  came  up  from  Romancoke  and 
stayed  with  him  till  he  left.  It  was  a  great  pleasure  to 
him  to  meet  his  sons  and  to  see  his  new  daughter  in  her 
new  home.  After  his  return  to  Lexington  he  wrote  to 
her  this  letter : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  May  29,  1868. 
"  My  Dear  Daughter:  I  have  been  enjoying  in  memory, 
ever  since  my  return,  my  visit  to  the  Pamunkey,  and 
whenever  I  have  thought  of  writing  to  you  the  pleasure 
I  experienced  in  your  company  and  in  that  of  Fitzhugh 
and  Robert  absorbed  the  moment  I  could  devote  to  a 
letter,  and  other  calls  made  me  postpone  it.  But  I  have 
thought  of  you  often,  and  always  with  renewed  pleasure; 
and  I  rejoice  at  your  having  around  you  more  comforts 
and  within  your  reach  more  pleasures  than  I  had  antici 
pated.  I  pray  that  both  may  be  increased  and  be  long 
continued.  There  is  one  thing  I  regret — that  you  are  so 
far  from  us.  I  know  the  difficulty  of  farmers  and  their 
wives  leaving  home.  Their  success,  and  in  a  measure 
their  pleasure,  depend  upon  their  daily  attention  to 
their  affairs,  and  it  is  almost  an  impossibility  for  us  old 
people  to  get  to  you.  Yet  I  trust  we  may  meet  this 
summer  some  time,  and  whenever  you  can  you  must 
come  and  see  us.  Our  small  house  will  never  be  so  full 
that  there  will  not  be  room  for  you,  or  so  empty  that  you 
will  not  be  most  cordially  welcome.  Letters  received 
from  Mary  and  Agnes  report  them  still  on  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Maryland,  where  they  were  detained  by  the 
sickness  of  Agnes.  They  expected,  however,  to  be  able 
to  return  to  Baltimore  last  Tuesday,  26th,  where,  after 
a  few  days'  sojourn,  they  were  to  go  to  Mrs.  Washington 
Peter's.  I  fear,  however,  that  Agnes  might  not  have  been 
well  enough,  as  she  had  had  an  attack  of  bilious  fever 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION   PERIOD          313 

and  was  much  prostrated.     Should  you  find  yourself  in 
danger  of  becoming  sick,  you  must  come  right  up  to 
your  papa.     I  know  you  will  pine,  but  I  would  rather 
you  should  suffer  in  that  way  than  burn  with  fever, 
and  while  on  that  subject  I  will  tell  you  something  that 
may  be  of  comfort :  you  may  reasonably  expect  Fitzhugh 
soon  to  follow,  so  you  will  not  suffer  long.     I  wish  to 
take  your  mama  to  the  Warm  Springs,  and  to  the  Hot 
or  Healing,  if  she  will  go,  to  try  to  obtain  for  her  some 
relief;  but  we  will  not  leave  home  till  the  last  of  June  or 
first  of  July.     I  am  so  much  occupied  that  I  feel  that  I 
ought  never  to  go  away,  and  every  absence  accumulates 
my  work.     I  had  a  pleasant  visit  of  three  days,  to  Lynch- 
burg,  attending  the  Episcopal  Convention,  and  I  have 
not  yet  brought  up  my  correspondence,  etc.     I  fear,  too, 
I  shall  have  to  go  to  Richmond  next  week,  as  everything 
seems  to  portend  the  certainty  of  Mr.  Davis's  trial.     God 
grant  tfcat,  like  the  impeachment  of  Mr.  Johnson,  it  may 
be  dismissed.     If  I  do  go,  I  fear  I  shall  have  no  time  to 
visit  you.     The  examinations  of  the  senior  classes  of 
the  college  are  now  in  progress,  and  after  their  completion 
the  examination  of  the  undergraduates  will  commence, 
and  will  not  terminate  till  the  isth  of  June,  and  the  com 
mencement  exercises  then  begin  and  end  on  the  i8th. 
So  you  see  how  necessary  it  is  for  me  to  be  here  and.  that 
I  shall  be  obliged  to  hasten  back  as  soon  as  permitted. 
I  wanted,  if    possible,  to  pass  one  day  at   'Shirley'— 
I  have  not  been  there  for  ten  years.     It  was  the  loved 
home  of  my  mother,  and  a  spot  where  I  have  passed 
many  happy  days  in  early  life,  and  one  that  probably 
I  may  never  visit  again.     But  I  do  not  know  that  I  shall 
be  able.     We  are  all  as  usual,  and  all  would  send  much 
love  if  they  knew  I  was  writing.     Mildred  is  very  happy 
in  the  company  of  Miss  Charlotte  Haxall,  and  Custis 
retains  his  serenity  of  character.     Our  young  members 
of  the  family  are  looking  forward  to  their  return  ^  to 
Powhatan  as  soon  as  the  college  exercises  close,  which 
I  hope  will  bring  some  relief  to  me  also.     I  see  that  you 


3i4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

have  been  much  visited  of  late,  but  you  know  that  no 
one  wants  to  see  you  as  much  as  I  do.  Tell  Fitzhugh 
that  his  old  friend,  Miss  Helen  Peters,  has  come  to 
Lexington,  from  New  York,  to  pass  the  summer.  See 
what  an  attractive  place  it  is  becoming.  She  is  now 
Mrs.  Taylor  and  has  brought  with  her  two  babies.  She 
is  as  cordial  and  as  affectionate  as  ever.  Give  much 
love  to  Fitzhugh  and  Rob,  and  believe  me  always  your 
devoted  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  WM.  H.  FITZHUGH  LEE." 

My  father  was  back  at  the  college  in  full  time  for  the 
"final  examinations."  He  always  made  it  a  point  to  be 
present,  and  took  his  full  share  of  sitting  in  the  rooms 
while  the  students  were  working  out  their  papers.  When 
occasion  offered,  somewhat  to  the  surprise  of  the  learned 
faculty,  he  showed  himself  thoroughly  conversant  with 
each  and  every  department.  Even  with  Greek  he 
seemed  somewhat  familiar,  and  would  question  the 
students  as  to  their  knowledge  of  this  language,  much 
to  their  astonishment. 

The  commencement  exercises  of  the  college  began 
about  June  ist  and  lasted  a  week.  At  this  time,  the 
town  was  crowded  with  visitors,  and  my  father  had  his 
house  full,  generally  of  young  girls,  friends  of  my  sisters 
who  came  to  assist  at  the  "final  ball,"  the  great  social 
event  connected  with  this  college  exercise.  He  seemed 
to  enjoy  their  society  as  much  as  the  young  men  did, 
though  he  could  not  devote  so  much  time  to  them  as  the 
boys  did,  and  I  know  that  the  girls  enjoyed  his  society 
more  than  they  did  that  of  their  college  adorers.  On 
the  occasion  of  an  entertainment  at  his  house,  in  going 
amongst  his  guests  saying  to  each  group  something  bright 
and  pleasant,  he  approached  a  young  lady,  a  great  belle, 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION   PERIOD          315 

completely  surrounded  by  her  admirers — students,  cadets, 
and  some  old  "Confeds."  He  stopped  and  began  to 
rally  her  on  her  conquests,  saying: 

"You  can  do  as  you  please  to  these  other  young  gen 
tlemen,  but  you  must  not  treat  any  of  my  old  soldiers 
badly." 

Those  who  have  never  known  him  cannot  imagine  the 
charm  of  his  manner,  the  brightness  of  his  smile,  and  the 
pleasant  way  he  had  of  speaking,  especially  to  young 
people  and  little  children.  His  rebukes  to  the  young 
were  administered  in  the  kindest,  gentlest  way,  almost 
persuasively,  but  he  could  be  stern  when  the  occasion 
demanded.  Colonel  William  Preston  Johnston,  a  member 
of  his  faculty  and  a  very  dear  and  trusted  friend,  says: 

"  In  his  intercourse  with  his  faculty  he  was  courteous, 
kind,  and  often  rather  playful  in  manner.  We  all  thought 
he  deferred  entirely  too  much  to  the  expression  of  opinion 
on  the  part  of  the  faculty,  when  we  would  have  preferred 
that  he  should  simply  indicate  his  own  views  or  desire. 
One  characteristic  of  General  Lee  I  noted  then  and  have 
often  recalled:  I  never  saw  him  take  an  ungraceful  pos 
ture.  No  matter  how  long  or  fatiguing  a  faculty  meeting 
might  be,  he  always  preserved  an  attitude  in  which 
dignity,  decorum,  and  grace  were  united.  He  was  a  very 
well  built  man,  with  rounded  body  and  limbs,  and  seemed 
without  the  slightest  affectation  of  effort  to  sit  or  stand 
or  walk  just  as  a  gentleman  should.  He  was  never  in  a 
hurry,  and  all  his  gestures  were  easy  and  significant. 
He  was  always  an  agreeable  companion.  There  was  a 
good  deal  of  bonhomie  and  pleasantry  in  his  conversa 
tion.  He  was  not  exactly  witty,  nor  was  he  very 
humorous,  though  he  gave  a  light  turn  to  table-talk 
and  enjoyed  exceedingly  any  pleasantry  or  fun,  even. 
He  often  made  a  quaint  or  slightly  caustic  remark,  but 
he  took  care  tha*  it  should  not  be  too  trenchant.  On 


3i6       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

reading  his  letters  one  discovers  this  playful  spirit  in  many 
of  them,  as,  for  instance,  in  his  letter  to  the  spiritualist 
who  asked  his  opinion  of  Von  Moltke  and  the  French 
war.  He  wrote  in  reply  a  most  courteous  letter  in  which 
he  said  that  'the  question  was  one  about  which  mili 
tary  critics  would  differ,  that  his  own  judgment  about 
such  matters  was  poor  at  best,  and  that  inasmuch  as  they 
had  the  power  to  consult  (through  their  mediums)  Caesar, 
Alexander,  Napoleon,  Wellington,  and  all  of  the  other 
great  captains  who  had  ever  lived,  he  could  not  think 
of  obtruding  his  opinion  in  such  company.'  General 
Lee  did  not  talk  politics,  but  he  felt  very  deeply  the 
condition  of  the  country,  and  expressed  to  me  several 
times  in  strong  terms  his  disapproval  of  the  course  of  the 
dominant  party." 

There  is  a  story  told  of  my  father  which  points  to  his 
playful  manner  here  alluded  to.  At  a  certain  faculty 
meeting  they  were  joking  Mr.  Harris,  who  so  long  and  so 
ably  filled  the  chair  of  Latin,  about  his  walking  up  the 
aisle  of  the  Presbyterian  church  with  the  stem  of  his 
pipe  protruding  from  his  pocket.  Mr.  Harris  took  out 
the  offending  stem  and  began  cutting  it  shorter.  My 
father,  who  had  been  enjoying  the  incident,  said: 

"No,  Mr.  Harris,  don't  do  that;  next  time  leave  it  at 
home." 

Sometimes  he  deemed  it  advisable  to  be  a  little  stern. 
One  of  the  young  professors  went  off  for  a  few  days 
without  asking  the  president's  permission.  On  his  return 
the  General  met  him  very  stiffly,  saying: 

"  Mr.  -  — ,  I  congratulate  you  on  your  return  to  your 
friends  and  your  duties.  I  was  not  aware  of  your  absence 
until  I  heard  it  by  chance." 

Mr.  told  this  on  himself,  and  added  that  it  was 

the  last  time  he  ever  went  away  without  a  formal  leave 


THE  RECONSTRUCTION   PERIOD          317 

of  absence.  His  particularity  in  little  things  has  often 
been  commented  on.  He  applied  it  to  all  his  affairs. 
Dr.  Kirkpatrick,  Professor  of  Moral,  Philosophy,  came 
into  the  president's  office  and  asked  for  a  certain  paper. 
My  father  told  him  where  it  could  be  found.  After  a 
while,  turning  to  the  doctor  he  said: 

"Did  you  find  the  paper?'* 

"Yes,   General,"  replied  the  Doctor. 

"  Did  you  return  it  to  the  place  where  you  found  it  ? " 

"Yes,   General." 

At  another  time  he  asked  Professor  Harris  to  look 
at  a  catalogue  on  the  table.  The  Professor  took  up  a 
new  one,  wrapped  ready  for  the  mail,  and  was  about  to 
tear  the  cover  off,  when  my  father,  hastily  handing  him 
one  already  opened,  said: 

"Take  this,  if  you  please." 

My  mother  used  to  say  that  he  could  go,  in  the  dark, 
and  lay  his  hand  on  any  article  of  his  clothing,  or  upon 
any  particular  paper,  after  he  had  once  arranged  them, 
provided  they  had  not  been  disturbed.  One  of  his 
"quaint  or  slightly  caustic  remarks,"  alluded  to  by 
Colonel  Johnston,  I  recall  as  told  to  me.  He  met  a  lady 
friend  down  in  the  town,  who  bitterly  complained  that 
she  could  get  nothing  to  eat  in  Lexington  suitable  for 
Lent — no  fish,  no  oysters,  etc. 

"  Mrs.  -  — ,  "  the  General  replied,  "  I  would  not  trouble 
myself  so  much  about  special  dishes;  I  suppose  if  we 
try  to  abstain  from  special  sins  that  is  all  that  will  be 
expected  of  us." 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
MRS.    R.    E.    LEE 

GOES  TO   WARM   SPRINGS    FOR    RHEUMATISM — HER  DAUGH 
TER    MILDRED    TAKES    TYPHOID    THERE REMOVES    TO 

HOT    SPRINGS HER    HUSBAND'S    DEVOTION VISIT    OF 

FITZHUGH    AND    BRIDE    TO    LEXINGTON MISS    JONES, 

A   WOULD-BE   BENEFACTOR  OF   WASHINGTON   COLLEGE 

FATE  OF  WASHINGTON  RELICS  BELONGING  TO  MRS. 

LEE'S  FAMILY 

THAT  summer  my  father  determined  to  take  my  mother 
to  the  Warm  Springs,  in  Bath  County,  Virginia,  hoping 
that  the  baths  there  might  be  of  service  to  her,  and 
purposing,  if  she  was  not  benefited,  to  go  to  the  Hot 
Springs,  five  miles  distant.  He  was  most  anxious  that 
his  new  daughter  should  join  her  there  and  go  with  him 
to  any  place  she  might  select,  and  come  back  with  them 
to  Lexington.  In  the  following  letter  to  his  son  he  tells 
of  his  plans  for  the  summer: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  July  i,  1868. 
"My  Dear  Fitzkugh:  I  received  yesterday  your  letter 
of  the  28th  ultimo,  and  regret  very  much  to  learn  of 
Tabb's  indisposition.  I  hope  that  she  will  soon  be  well, 
and  I  wish  very  much  she  would  join  us  in  the  mountains 
and  return  here  with  us.  In  my  letter  to  her  about  the 
time  when  she  went  to  her  sister's  wedding,  which  I  hope 
she  got,  I  told  her  of  my  wishes  on  this  subject,  and 
believe  gave  her  our  general  plans.  I  can  now  say  with 
more  distinctness  that,  unless  something  now  unforeseen 

318 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  3J9 

should  prevent,  I  will  take  your  mother  to  the  Warm 
Springs,  from  the  loth  to  the  i5th  inst.,  and  after  trying 
the  water  there  about  two  weeks,  if  not  favourable,  will 
take  her  over  to  the  Hot.     After  seeing  her  comfortably 
established,   I  will  then  go  anywhere  Tabb  desires— to 
the  Healing  or  the  White  Sulphur  or  Sweet.     I  intend 
to  go  myself  to  the  White  Sulphur  for  about  a  fortnight, 
to  drink  the  water,  and  will  take  Mildred  with  me.  Agnes, 
having  gone  last  summer,  will  not  care  to  go,  I  presume, 
and  can  remain   with  her  mother.     Mildred  has  been 
quite  sick  for  the  past  week,  but  is  now  much  better,  and 
in  a  week  will  be  strong  enough  for  the  journey,  I  think. 
If  not,  we  shall  have  to  delay  our  departure  a  little. 
Agnes  was  also  sick  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland 
about  three  weeks,  and,   I  am  told,  looks  badly.     She 
is  now  at  the  University  of  Virginia,  and  will  be  home 
in  a  few  days  and  go  with  us  to  the  Springs.     You  must 
arrange  your  plans  to  suit  your  interests  and  convenience, 
coming  to  us  when  you  can  and  staying  as  long  as  you 
can.     You  know  the  interest  I  take  in  your  prosperity 
and    advancement,    which    cannot    be    assured    without 
earnest    attention  to  your  business    on  your  part,  and 
therefore  I  never  urge  you  to  act  contrary  to  your  own 
judgment  in  reference  to  them.     As  to  my  daughter, 
Tabb,  tell  her  if  she  will  trust  herself   to  her  papa  she 
shall  never  want  anything  he  can  do  for  her,  and  I  think 
she  will  find  the  prediction  in  my  letter  to  her  verified. 
She  might  join  us  at  Goshen  and  go  with  us,  or  come  here. 
Why  did  she  not  come  up  with  her  father  ?     I  went  to 
see  him  last  evening,  but  he  was  out.     Your  mother,  I 
presume,  has  told  you  of  home  affairs.     She  has  become 
nervous  of  late,  and  broods  over  her  troubles  so  much 
that  I  fear  it  increases  her  sufferings.     I  am  therefore 
the  more  anxious  to  give  her  new  scenes  and  new  thoughts. 
It  is  the-  principal  good   I   anticipate.     Love  to  Rob. 
Custis  still  talks  of  visiting  you,  but  I  have  not  heard  ^of 
his  having  fixed  the  day  of  his  departure.     He  is  quite 


320       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

well.     With  my  best  love  to  my  daughter  T and 

the  same  to  yourself,  I  am, 

"Most  affectionately  your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  morning  he  left  Lexington  he,  while  waiting  for 
the  stage,  writes  as  follows  to  a  great  favourite  of  his,  a 
friend  of  Mildred's,  who  had  been  on  a  visit  to  her  that 
summer : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  July  14,  1868. 
".  .  .  The  stage  is  at  the  door  to  carry  us  to 
Goshen,  and  if  Mrs.  Lee's  strength  permits,  we  hope  to 
reach  the  Warm  Springs  to-night.  After  two  or  three 
weeks'  trial  of  its  waters  we  shall  go  to  the  Hot,  where, 
leaving  Agnes  to  take  care  of  her  mother,  I  shall  take 
Mildred  to  the  White  Sulphur,  and  hope  to  meet  you  at 
Covington  and  carry  you  along.  Will  you  not  come? 
Mildred  is  quite  v/ell  again  and  is  flying  about 
this  morning  with  great  activity.  Agnes  is  following 
with  slower  steps,  Mrs.  Lee  is  giving  her  last  injunctions 
to  Sam  and  Eliza.  Letitia*  is  looking  on  with  wonder 
at  the  preparations,  and  trying  to  get  a  right  conception 
of  the  place  to  which  she  is  going,  which  she  seems  to 
think  is  something  between  a  steel-trap  and  a  spring- 
gun.  Custis  is  waiting  to  help  his  mother  into  the  stage, 
and  you  see  how  patient  I  am.  To  add  interest  to  the 
scene,  Dr.  Barton  has  arrived  to  bid  adieu  and  to  give 
Mildred  an  opportunity  of  looking  her  best.  I  believe 
he  is  the  last  rose  of  summer.  The  others,  with  their 
fragrance  and  thorns,  have  all  departed.  .  .  ." 

A  few  days  after  their  arrival  at  the  Warm  Springs, 
Mildred  was  taken  ill  with  typhoid  fever,  and  during 
many  anxious  weeks  my  father  and  Agnes  were  her  only 
nurses.  My  mother's  room  was  on  the  first  floor  of  the 

*  My  mother's  maid. 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  321 

" Brockenborough  Cottage,"  my  sister's  in  the  second, 
so  she  could  not  get  upstairs  to  her  room.  Mildred  was 
very  fanciful — would  have  no  one  but  my  father  to  nurse 
her,  and  could  not  sleep  unless  she  had  his  hand  in  hers. 
Night  after  night  he  sat  by  her  side,  watching  over  her 
and  attending  to  every  want  with  gentleness  and  patience. 
He  writes  to  the  same  young  lady,  at  Mildred's  request : 

"WARM  SPRINGS,  Virginia,  July  30,  1868. 
"...  She  [Mildred]  has  been  so  anxious  to  write 
to  you,  and  so  uneasy  at  her  inability  to  do  so,  that  I  hope 
you  will  permit  me  to  tell  you  the  reason.  She  has  been 
quite  sick  and  is  so  still — confined  to  her  bed  with  low 
fever,  which  retains  its  hold  very  pertinaciously.  She 
took  cold  a  few  days  after  our  arrival,  from  some  impru 
dence,  and  is  now  very  much  enfeebled.  She  has  been 
more  comfortable  the  last  day  or  two,  and  I  hope  is 
better,  but  I  presume  her  recovery  will  necessarily  be  slow. 
You  know  she  is  very  fanciful,  and  as  she  seems  to  be 
more  accessible  to  reason  from  me,  I  have  come  be  her 
chief  nurse,  and  am  now  writing  in  her  room,  while  she 
is  sleeping.  .  .  .  This  is  a  beautiful  valley,  and  we 
have  quite  a  pleasant  company — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chapman 
and  their  three  daughters  from  Alabama;  Mrs.  Coleman 
and  her  two  daughters  from  Baltimore;  some  ladies 
from  Richmond,  Washington,  Kentucky,  Iowa,  etc.,  and 
an  ever-changing  scene  of  faces.  As  soon  as  Mildred  is 
strong  enough,  we  will  go  to  the  Hot,  after  which,  if  she 
desires  it,  I  will  take  her  to  the  White.  Mrs.  Lee  and 
Agnes  are  improving  slightly,  I  am  glad  to  say.  We 
hear  of  many  friends  at  the  Hot,  Healing,  and  White, 
and  hope  we  shall  reach  these  respective  waters  before 
they  depart.  .  .  .  The  Harrisons  have  written  me 
that  they  will  be  here  on  the  i4th  proximo,  but  unless 
Mildred's  recovery  is  much  retarded  it  will  be  too  late 
for  me  to  see  them.  The  Caskies  will  be  at  the  Hot 
about  the  same  time.  ...  I  am, 

"Yours  most  sincerely,         R.  E.  LEE." 


322       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

On  August  3d,  from  the  same  place,  he  writes  to  my 
brother  Fitzhugh: 

".  .  .  this  was  the  day  I  had  appointed  to  go  to 
the  Hot,  but  Mildred  is  too  sick  to  move.  She  was 
taken  more  than  a  fortnight  since,  .  .  .  and  her 
attack  seems  to  have  partaken  of  a  typhoid  character. 
She  has  had  since  a  low  and  persistent  fever,  which  retains 
its  hold.  She  is  very  feeble,  but,  in  the  doctor's  opinion, 
somewhat  better.  I  myself  see  little  change,  except 
that  she  is  now  free  from  pain.  I  cannot  speak  of  our 
future  movements.  I  fear  I  shall  have  to  abandon  my 
visit  to  the  White.  Your  mother  and  Agnes  are  better 
than  when  they  arrived.  The  former  bathes  freely,  eats 
generously,  and  sleeps  sweetly.  Agnes,  though  feeble, 
is  stronger.  I  am  the  same,  and  can  see  no  effects  of  the 
waters  upon  myself.  Give  much  love  to  my  sweet 
daughter  and  dear  sons.  All  unite  with  me  in  this  mes 
sage.  ...  I  am,  as  ever  and  always, 

11  Your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Another  letter  to  my  brother,  Fitzhugh,  from  the 
Warm  Springs,  tells  of  his  daughter's  convalescence. 
Smith's  Island,  of  which  he  writes,  belonged  to  my 
grandfather's  estate,  of  which  my  father  was  executor. 
He  was  trying  to  make  some  disposition  of  it,  so  that  it 
might  yield  a  revenue.  It  is  situated  on  the  Atlantic, 
just  east  of  Cape  Charles,  in  Northampton  County, 
Virginia. 

"WARM  SPRINGS,  Virginia,  August  14,  1868. 
"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  received,  yesterday,  your 
letter  of  the  pth,  and,  as  your  mother  informed  you  of 
Mildred's  condition,  I  deferred  replying  to  it  until  to-day. 
I  am  glad  to  inform  you  that  she  is  better,  and  that  the 
doctor  pronounces  her  convalescent  this  morning.  He 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  323 

says  her  progress  must  necessarily  be  slow,  but  with 
care  and  prudence  he  sees  nothing  to  prevent  her  recovery, 
unless  something  unforeseen  occurs.  I  hope,  therefore, 
we  may  dismiss  our  anxiety.  As  regards  Smith's  Island, 
I  should  be  very  glad  if  you  could  go  over  and  see  it,  and, 
if  you  think  proper,  make  such  disposition  of  it  as  you 
and  Robert  think  most  advantageous.  See  Mr.  Hamilton 
S.  Neale  (Eastville,  Northampton  County,  Virginia)  and 
consult  with  him  on  the  subject  and  let  me  know  your 
determination.  I  think  you  will  find  him  kind  and 
intelligent.  I  have  visited  the  island  twice  in  my  life, 
a  long  while  ago,  and  thought  that,  if  a  person  lived  on 
it,  he  might,  oy  grazing,  planting,  and  fishing,  make  a 
comfortable  living.  You  and  Robert  might,  if  you  choose, 
buy  the  island  from  the  estate.  I  fear  the  timber,  etc., 
has  been  cut  from  it.  I  never  thought  it  as  valuable  as 
your  grandfather  did.  You  will  have  to  go  to  Norfolk, 
take  the  steamer  to  Cherrystone,  where,  I  suppose,  you 
can  find  a  conveyance  to  Eastville.  You  know  Cobb's 
Island  has  been  a  fashionable  bathing-place.  John 
Lewis  wrote  that  the  beach  was  delightful  and  fare 
excellent,  and  that  they  had  sail -vessels  there  at  the 
disposal  of  visitors.  But  Mr.  Neale  and  Mr.  John  Simp- 
kins,  the  present  agent,  can  put  you  in  the  way  of 
visiting  the  island,  and  you  might  carry  my  sweet  daugh 
ter,  Tabb,  over  and  give  her  a  surf  bath.  But  do  not  let  the 
mosquitoes  annoy  her.  Give  her  much  love  from  me. 
I  am  writing  in  Mildred's  room,  who  is  very  grateful  for 
your  interest  in  her  behalf.  She  is  too  weak  to  speak.  I 
hope  Rob  had  a  pleasant  trip.  Tell  me  Custis's  plans. 
I  have  not  heard  from  him.  Your  mother  and  Agnes 
unite  in  love  to  you,  Rob,  and  Tabb.  I  have  a  fan  in  one 
hand,  while  I  wield  the  pen  with  the  other,  so  excuse 
brevity.  Most  affectionately  yours,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"P.S. — George  and  Eleanor  Goldsborough  and  Miss 
Mary  G—  -  express  themselves  as  much  pleased  with 
Cobb's  Island.  I  do  not  know  how  far  it  is  east  of 
Smith's  Island.  R.  E.  LEE," 


324       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

His  daughter  being  convalescent,  he  carried  out  his 
plan,  and  went  over  to  the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  after 
he  had  placed  my  mother  and  sisters  at  the  Hot  Springs. 
In  a  letter  from  there,  on  August  28th,  he  writes: 

".  .  .  The  place  looks  beautiful — the  belles  very 
handsome,  and  the  beaux  very  happy.  All  are  gay,  and 
only  I  solitary.  I  am  all  alone.  There  was  a  grand 
fancy  masked  ball  last  night.  The  room  was  overflowing, 
the  music  good,  as  much  spring  in  the  boards  as  in  the 
conversation,  and  the  german  continued  till  two  o'clock 
this  morning.  I  return  to  the  Hot  next  week,  and 
the  following  to  Lexington.  Mildred  is  much  better, 
but  says  she  has  forgotten  how  to  write.  I  hope  that 
she  will  be  strong  enough  to  return  with  me.  ...  I 
am,  Truly  and  affectionately  yours,  R.  E.  LEE." 

They  all  returned  to  Lexington  early  in  September,  in 
time  for  the  opening  of  the  college.  Mildred  was  still 
weak  and  nervous,  nor  did  she  recover  her  normal  strength 
for  several  months.  She  was  always  my  father's  pet  as 
a  little  girl,  and  during  this  illness  and  convalescence  he 
had  been  very  tender  with  her,  humouring  as  far  as  he 
could  all  of  her  fancies.  Not  long  before  that  Christmas, 
she  enumerated,  just  in  fun,  all  the  presents  she  wished— 
a  long  list.  To  her  great  surprise,  when  Christmas 
morning  came  she  found  each  article  at  her  place  at  the 
breakfast-table — not  one  omitted. 

His  sympathy  with  all  who  were  suffering,  ill,  and 
afflicted  was  warm  and  sincere.  Colonel  Shipp,  now 
superintendent  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  was  the 
commandant  of  cadets  when  my  father  came  to  Lexing 
ton.  He  tells  me  that  he  was  ill  for  some  weeks,  laid  up 
in  his  room,  which  was  next  to  that  of  my  brother  Custis. 
He  hardly  knew  General  Lee,  and  had  spoken  to  him  only 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  325 

a  few  times,  but  my  father  went  to  see  him  quite  often, 
would  sit  by  him,  talk  to  him,  and  seemed  much  interested 
in  his  getting  well.  He  said  that  he  would  consult  Mrs. 
Lee  ("who  is  a  great  doctor"),  and  he  finally  brought  a 
bottle  of  something  in  which  sudor-berries  were  the  chief 
ingredient.  Colonel  Shipp  found  out  afterward  that  the 
sudor-berries  had  been  sent  from  the  White  House,  and 
that  my  mother  had  concocted  the  medicine. 

On  one  occasion,  calling  at  Colonel  Preston's,  he  missed 
two  little  boys  in  the  family  circle,  who  were  great  favour 
ites  of  his,  and  on  asking  for  them  he  was  told  that  they 
were  confined  to  the  nursery  by  croup.  The  next  day, 
though  the  weather  was  of  the  worst  description,  he 
went  trudging  in  great  storm-boots  back  to  their  house, 
carrying  in  one  hand  a  basket  of  pecan  nuts  and  in  the 
other  a  toy,  which  he  left  for  his  little  sick  friends. 

To  my  mother,  who  was  a  great  invalid  from  rheu 
matism  for  more  than  ten  years,  he  was  the  most  faithful 
attendant  and  tender  nurse.  Every  want  of  hers  that 
he  could  supply  he  anticipated.  His  considerate  fore 
thought  saved  her  from  much  pain  and  trouble.  During 
the  war  he  constantly  wrote  to  her,  even  when  on  the 
march  and  amidst  the  most  pressing  duties.  Every 
summer  of  their  life  in  Lexington  he  arranged  that  she 
should  spend  several  months  at  one  of  the  many  me 
dicinal  springs  in  the  neighbouring  mountains,  as  much 
that  she  might  be  surrounded  by  new  scenes  and  faces, 
as  for  the  benefit  of  the  waters.  Whenever  he  was  in 
the  room,  the  privilege  of  pushing  her  wheeled  chair  into 
the  dining-room  and  out  on  the  verandas  or  elsewhere 
about  the  house  was  yielded  to  him.  He  sat  with  her 
daily,  entertaining  her  with  accounts  of  what  was  doing 
in  the  college,  and  the  news  of  the  village,  and  would 


326       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

often  read  to  her  in  the  evening.  For  her  his  love  and 
care  never  ceased,  his  gentleness  and  patience  never 
ended. 

This  tenderness  for  the  sick  and  helpless  was  developed 
in  him  when  he  was  a  mere  lad.  His  mother  was  an 
invalid,  and  he  was  her  constant  nurse.  In  her  last 
illness  he  mixed  every  dose  of  medicine  she  took,  and  was 
with  her  night  and  day.  If  he  left  the  room,  she  kept 
her  eyes  on  the  door  till  he  returned.  He  never  left  her 
but  for  a  short  time.  After  her  death  the  health  of  their 
faithful  servant,  Nat,  became  very  bad.  My  father, 
then  just  graduated  from  West  Point,  took  him  to  the 
South,  had  the  best  medical  advice,  a  comfortable  room, 
and  everything  that  could  be  done  to  restore  him,  and 
attended  to  him  himself. 

I  can  find  very  few  family  letters  written  by  my 
father  at  this  time.  Those  which  have  been  preserved 
are  to  my  brother  Fitzhugh,  and  are  mostly  about 
Smith's  Island  and  the  settling  up  of  my  grandfather's 
estate.  The  last  of  September  he  writes: 

''LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  September  28,  1868. 
"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  Your  report  of  the  condition  of 
Smith's  Island  corresponds  with  my  own  impressions, 
based  upon  my  knowledge  of  the  island  and  the  reports 
of  others.  I  think  it  would  be  advantageous,  under 
present  circumstances,  to  make  sale  of  the  island  as  soon 
as  a  fair  price  can  be  obtained,  and  I  have  so  instructed 
Mr.  Hamilton  S.  Neale,  who  has  consented  to  act  as  my 
agent.  ...  I  should  like  this  whole  matter  arranged 
as  soon  as  possible,  for  my  life  is  very  uncertain,  and  its 
settlement  now  may  avoid  future  difficulties.  I  am  very 
glad  to  hear  that  you  and  Rob  have  continued  well,  and 
that  my  daughter  is  improving.  Give  my  love  to  them 
both.  The  loss  of  your  fine  cows  is  a  serious  one,  and  I 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  327 

believe  you  will  have  to  procure  them  in  your  vicinity 
and  improve  them.  Get  some  calves  this  fall  of  a  good 
breed.  We  hope  that  we  shall  see  you  this  fall.  Your 
mother  is  as  comfortable  as  usual,  and  Mildred  is  im 
proving.  Custis,  Mary,  and  Agnes  are  well,  and  all 
would  send  love,  did  they  know  I  was  writing. 

"  Very  affectionately  your  father,       R.  E.  LEE/* 

This  autumn  he  had  a  visit  from  his  nephew,  Edward 
Lee  Childe.  Edward  lived  in  Paris,  and  had  crossed 
over  in  the  summer  to  see  my  father  and  mother.  He 
made  a  very  pleasant  impression  on  everybody,  and  was 
much  pleased  with  his  visit.  Here  is  a  letter  written  by 
my  father  to  my  brother  just  after  Edward  left : 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  October  14,  1868. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzkugh:  I  have  returned  to  Mr.  Hamilton 
S.  Neale  the  advertisement  of  the  sale  of  Smith's  Island, 
with  my  approval,  and  have  requested  him  to  advertise 
in  the  Northern  and  Richmond  papers,  etc.,  and  to  send 
out  such  other  notices  as  he  deems  best  calculated  to 
attract  attention  to  the  property,  and  to  take  every 
measure  to  enhance  the  value  of  the  island  and  to  procure 
for  your  grandfather's  estate  the  full  benefit  of  the  sale. 
.  .  I  have  heard  from  Mr.  Compton  that  my  daughter 
Tabb  has  returned  to  the  White  House  in  improved 
health,  which  I  am  very  glad  of.  I  hope  that  you  will 
soon  be  able  to  bring  her  up  to  see  us.  Do  not  wait  until 
the  weather  becomes  too  cold.  Our  mountain  atmosphere 
in  winter  is  very  harsh.  So  far,  the  weather  has  been 
delightful.  Your  cousin  Edward  left  us  last  Thursday 
evening  on  his  way  to  see  you.  We  enjoyed  his  visit 
greatly.  Agnes  and  I  rode  down  to  the  Baths  last 
Saturday  to  see  the  Harrisons,  and  returned  Sunday 
evening.  They  were  well,  and  somewhat  benefited  by 
their  visit.  Mr.  George  Ritchie's  death  no  doubt  threw 
a  shade  of  sadness  over  the  whole  party  on  Mrs.  Harrison's 


328       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

account,  though  all  were  charming  and  Miss  Belle  very 
sweet.  We  are  about  the  same — your  poor  mother 
comfortable,  Mildred  improving.  All  would  unite  in  love 
to  you  and  yours,  did  they  know  I  was  writing.  Give 
much  love  to  my  dear  daughter,  Tabb,  and  tell  her  that 
I  want  to  see  her  very  much. 

"Truly  and   affectionately  your  father, 
"GENERAL  W.  H.  FITZHUGH  LEE.  R.  E.  LEE." 

In  a  few  days,  he  writes  again,  still  about  Smith's 
Island,  but  adds  much  about  the  family  and  friends  : 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  October  19,  1868. 
"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:     I  received  your  letter  of  the 
1 2th  the  day  I  last  wrote  to  you.     I  am  glad  we  agree 

that  $ should  be  the  minimum  limit  for  the  price  of 

Smith's  Island.  You  will  see  by  my  letter  referred  to 
that  it  has  been  so  fixed.  December  22d  is  the  day 
proposed  by  Mr.  Neale  as  the  time  of  public  sale,  which 
was  approved  by  me,  though  I  feared  the  notice  might  be 
too  short.  Still  there  are  good  reasons  for  the  sale  being 
made  without  unnecessary  delay.  I  think  November, 
which  you  suggest,  would  not  afford  sufficient  notice.'  I 
would  recommend  that  you  and  Robert  attend  the  sale, 
and  be  governed  by  circumstances  in  what  you  do.  I 
would  go  myself,  but  it  would  be  a  long,  hard  journey 
for  me  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and  I  do  not  see  any 
material  good  that  I  can  do.  Mr.  Neale  kindly  offered 
to  meet  me  at  Cherrystone  landing  and  take  me  to  his 
house,  but  I  shall  decline  in  your  favour.  I  am  sorry 
that  Edward  did  not  get  down  to  see  you,  for  I  wanted 
him  to  see  my  daughter,  Tabb.  I  am  sure  he  has  seen 
none  like  her  in  Paris.  He  left  here  with  the  purpose  of 
visiting  you  and  his  uncle  Smith,  and  I  do  not  know 
what  made  him  change  his  mind.  I  hope  that  you  will 
get  in  a  good  crop  of  wheat,  and  get  it  in  well.  The 
latter  is  very  important  and  unless  accomplished  may 
deprive  you  of  the  whole  benefit  of  your  labour  and 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  329 

expense.  We  shall  look  anxiously  for  your  visit.  Do 
not  put  it  off  too  late  or  the  weather  may  be  unfavourable. 
Our  mountain  country  is  not  the  most  pleasant  in  cold 
weather,  but  we  will  try  and  make  you  warm.  Give  my 
love  to  Tabb,  and  tell  her  I  am  wanting  to  see  her  all  the 
time.  All  unite  in  love  to  her  and  you.  Your  mother 
is  about  the  same,  very  busy,  and  full  of  work.  Mildred 
is  steadily  improving,  and  is  able  to  ride  on  horseback, 
which  she  is  beginning  to  enjoy.  Mary  and  Agnes  very 
well.  We  see  but  little  of  Custis.  He  has  joined  the 
mess  at  the  institute,  which  he  finds  very  comfortable,  so 
that  he  rarely  comes  to  our  table  to  breakfast  now.  The 
rest  of  the  time  he  seems  to  be  occupied  with  his  classes 
and  studies.  Remember  me  to  Rob.  I  hear  of  a  great 
many  weddings,  but  his  has  not  been  announced  yet. 
He  must  not  forget  his  house.  I  have  not,  and  am 
going  to  take  up  the  plan  very  soon.  Mildred  says  a 
good  house  is  an  effective  card  in  the  matrimonial  game. 
She  is  building  a  castle  in  the  air.  The  Harrisons  propose 
leaving  the  Baths  to-morrow.  George  arrived  a  week  ago. 
I  did  not  get  down  Saturday  to  see  them  as  I  wished.  I 
hope  the  health  of  the  whole  party  has  been  improved. 
I  wish  I  could  spend  this  month  with  you.  That  lower 
country  is  delightful  to  me  at  this  season,  and  I  long  to  be 
on  the  water  again,  but  it  cannot  be.  With  much  love, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"GENERAL  WM.  H.  FITZHUGH  LEE." 

The  last  of  October  he  went  to  Staunton  on  some 
business.  He  rode  Traveller,  and  Colonel  Wm.  Allan 
rode  with  him.  It  was  the  time  of  the  Augusta  Agri 
cultural  Fair,  and  while  there  he  visited  the  exhibition 
and  was  received  by  the  people  with  great  demonstrations 
of  delight.  A  student  standing  by  remarked  dryly: 

"I  don't  see  why  the  Staunton  people  make  all  this 
to  do  over  General  Lee ;  why,  in  Lexington,  he  sends  for 
me  to  come  to  see  him !" 


330       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

In  a  letter  of  November  26.  he  mentions  this  little 
journey : 

" .  .  .  I  have  recently  paid  a  visit  to  Staimton  and 
saw  the  young  people  there.  They  seemed  very  happy 
in  their  fair,  and  the  beaux  with  their  belles.  I  rode 
over  on  Traveller  and  was  accompanied  by  Colonel  Allan. 
The  former  was  delighted  at  the  length  of  the  road,  and 
the  latter  relieved  from  an  obstinate  cold  from  which  he 
was  suffering.  On  the  second  morning,  just  as  the 
knights  were  being  marshalled  to  prove  their  prowess 
and  devotion,  we  commenced  our  journey  back  to 
Lexington,  which  we  reached  before  nine  p.  M.,  under  the 
light  of  a  beautiful  moon." 

At  this  time  his  son  Fitzhugh  and  his  new  daughter 
paid  their  long-promised  visit,  which  he  enjoyed  im 
mensely.  My  mother  and  sisters  were  charmed  with  her, 
and  the  entire  community  vied  in  paying  her  attention. 
My  father  was  proud  of  his  daughter-in-law  and  much 
gratified  at  his  son's  marriage.  He  was  delighted  with 
the  manner  in  which  she  adapted  herself  to  the  ways  of 
all  her  new  relations,  with  her  sweet  attention  to  my 
mother,  and,  above  all,  with  her  punctuality.  She  Jiad 
been  warned  beforehand  by  her  husband  that,  to  please 
his  father,  she  must  be  always  ready  for  family  prayers, 
which  were  read  every  morning  by  him  just  before 
breakfast.  This  she  succeeded  in  doing,  never  failing 
once  to  be  on  time.  As  breakfast  was  at  seven  o'clock, 
it  was  no  small  feat  for  one  not  accustomed  to  such  early 
hours.  She  said  afterward  that  she  did  not  believe  that 
General  Lee  would  have  an  entirely  high  opinion  of  any 
person,  even  General  Washington,  if  he  could  return  to 
earth,  if  he  were  not  ready  for  prayers  !  After  a  delightful 
visit  of  three  weeks  my  brother  and  his  wife  returned 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  331 

home.  Just  as  the  latter  was  packing,  my  father  came 
into  her  room  and  filled  all  the  space  in  the  top  of  her 
trunk  with  pecan  nuts,  which  some  friend  had  sent  him 
from  the  South. 

The  hour  fixed  for  the  service  in  the  college  chapel  was, 
as  I  have  said,  a  quarter  to  eight  o'clock  every  morning 
except  Sunday.  In  the  three  winter  months,  December, 
January,  and  February,  it  was  one  hour  later.  As  the 
president  never  failed  to  attend,  when  not  prevented  by 
sickness  or  absence,  it  was  necessary  to  have  an  early 
breakfast.  After  chapel  he  went  to  his  office  and  was 
seated  at  his  desk  by  eight  o'clock,  where  he  remained, 
unless  called  out  by  public  business,  till  two  P.  M.  This 
room  was  open  to  all  in  the  college  who  had  business  with 
him.  The  new  students  were  required  to  report  to  him 
here  in  person,  and  from  their  first  interviews  he  obtained 
a  knowledge  of  the  young  men  of  which  he  availed  himself 
in  their  future  career  in  the  college.  As  president,  he 
was  always  disposed  to  be  lenient  with  students  who  were 
reported  for  disorderly  conduct  or  for  failure  in  their 
studies  or  duties.  He  would  say  to  the  faculty,  when 
they  seemed  to  think  it  necessary  to  send  a  student 
home: 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  better  to  bear  with  him 
a  little  longer?  Perhaps  we  may  do  him  some  good." 

Being  sent  for  to  this  office  was  anything  but  pleasant 
to  the  students.  Lewis,  one  of  the  janitors,  went  around 
with  the  names  of  those  the  president  wanted  to  see, 
written  by  his  own  hand  on  a  long  slip  of  paper.  He 
carried  the  paper  in  one  hand,  a  pencil  in  the  other,  and 
when  he  could  find  the  one  he  wanted  in  a  crowd  of  his 
comrades,  he  took  special  pleasure  in  serving  his  notice, 
and  would  say  in  his  solemn,  sepulchral  voice : 


332       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"  Mr.  -  — ,  the  president  wants  to  see  you  at  the  office." 
Then  Mr.  -  -  took  the  pencil  and  made  a  cross -mark 
opposite  his  name,  which  was  evidence  of  his  having 
received  his  summons.  What  transpired  at  these  inter 
views  was  seldom  known,  except  as  the  student  himself 
might  reveal  it;  for  unless  it  became  necessary  to. sum 
mon  the  delinquent  a  second  time,  the  president  never 
alluded  to  the  subject.  An  old  student  writes  me  the 
following  account  of  his  experience  in  the  president's 
office: 

"  I  was  a  frolicsome  chap  at  college,  and,  having  been 
absent  from  class  an  unreasonable  number  of  times,  was 
finally  summoned  to  the  General's  office.  Abject  terror 
took  possession  of  me  in  the  presence  of  such  wise  and 
quiet  dignity;  the  reasons  I  had  carefully  prepared  to 
give  for  my  absence  stood  on  their  heads,  or  toppled  over. 
In  reply  to  General  Lee's  grave  but  perfectly  polite  ques 
tion,  I  stammered  out  a  story  about  a  violent  illness,  and 
then,  conscious  that  I  was  at  that  moment  the  picture  of 
health,  I  hastened  on  with  something  about  leaving  my 
boots  at  the  cobbler's,  when  General  Lee  interrupted  me : 
'  Stop,  Mr.M—  — ,'  he  said ;  '  stop,  sir  !  One  good  reason  is 
enough.'  But  I  could  not  be  mistaken  about  the  twinkle 
in  the  old  hero's  eyes!" 

Only  a  few  cases  required  more  than  one  summons  to 
appear  at  the  office.  No  instance  is  known  where  a  stu 
dent  complained  of  injustice  or  harshness,  and  the  effect 
on  his  mind  was  that  of  greater  respect  and  admiration 
for  the  president. 

The  new  house  was  approaching  completion,  and  my 
father  was  much  interested  in  the  work,  going  there  very 
often  and  discussing  with  the  workmen  their  methods. 
That  Christmas  I  spent  two  weeks  in  Lexington,  and 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  333 

many  times  my  father  took  me  all  over  the  new  building, 
explaining  all  the  details  of  his  plan.  All  of  his  family 
were  here  together  this  Christmas  except  Fitzhugh  and 
his  wife,  an  occurrence  rather  rare  of  late  years.  My 
father's  health  was  unusually  good,  and  he  was  bright 
and  almost  gay.  He  rode  out  often,  taking  me  with  him, 
as  it  was  too  cold  for  the  girls.  He  also  took  me  around 
with  him  visiting,  and  in  the  mild  festivities  of  the  neigh 
bours  he  joined  with  evident  pleasure.  My  visit  ended 
all  too  soon,  and  the  first  week  of  January  I  started  back 
to  the  "low  country."  Soon  after  my  departure,  he  for 
warded  a  letter  to  me  with  the  accompanying  one  of  his 
own: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  14,  1869. 
"  My  Dear  Rob:  The  accompanying  letter  was  inclosed 
to  me  by  Lawrence  Butler*  with  the  request  that  I  would 
forward  it,  as  he  did  not  know  your  address,  and  urge  you 
to  be  present  at  his  wedding.  I  do  not  know  that  I  can 
say  more,  except  to  inform  you  that  he  says  he  has  the 
very  girl  for  you  if  you  will  come  on.  You  must  therefore 
decide  the  question  according  to  your  best  judgment. 
General  Hoke,  from  North  Carolina,  has  also  sent  you  his 
wedding-cards.  We  have  missed  you  very  much  since 
your  departure,  and  wished  you  back.  I  hope  you  got 
home  comfortably  and  found  all  well.  Drive  all  your 
work  with  judgment  and  energy,  and  when  you  have 
decided  about  the  house,  let  me  know.  Tell  Fitzhugh  I 
have  signed  the  insurance  policy  and  sent  it  to  Mr.  Wick- 
ham  for  his  signature,  with  the  request  that  he  forward  it 
to  Grubb  £  Williams.  The  weather  still  continues  pleas 
ant,  and  I  fear  we  shall  suffer  for  it  by  the  late  spring. 
There  has  so  far  been  a  great  lack  of  snow,  and  conse 
quently  the  wheat  is  exposed  to  the  great  changes  of  tem- 

*  The  grandson  of  Nellie  Custis,  my  grandfather's  sister,  who  married 
Lawrence  Lewis,  the  favourite  nephew  of  Washington. 


334       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

perature.     We  are  all  as  you  left  us.     Custis,  I  think, 
looks    better.     No    news.     Mail    heavy    this    morning'. 

Love  to  F-    -  and  T .     With  great  affection, 

"Your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"R.  E.  LEE,  JR." 

Some  one  wrote  to  General  Lee  suggesting  that 
General  Grant,  then  the  president  of  the  United  States, 
should  be  invited  to  Washington  College.  His  reply  was 
as  follows: 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  8,  1869. 
"  My  Dear  Sir:  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  let 
ter  of  the  2pth  ult.,  which  I  am  sure  has  been  prompted 
by  the  best  motives.  I  should  be  glad  if  General  Grant 
would  visit  Washington  College,  and  I  should  endeavour 
to  treat  him  with  the  courtesy  and  respect  due  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States ;  but  if  I  were  to  invite  him  to 
do  so,  it  might  not  be  agreeable  to  him,  and  I  fear  my 
motives  might  be  misunderstood  at  this  time,  both  by 
himself  and  others,  and  that  evil  would  result  instead  of 
good.  I  will,  however,  bear  your  suggestion  in  mind, 
and  should  a  favourable  opportunity  offer  I  shall  be  glad 
to  take  advantage  of  it.  Wishing  you  happiness  and 
prosperity,  I  am,  Very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

A  lady  living  in  New  York  wrote  to  General  Lee  in 
1867,  asking  for  a  catalogue  of  Washington  College  and  a 
copy  of  its  charter  and  laws.  She  wished  also  to  know 
whether  or  not  the  college  was  sectarian,  and,  if  so,  of  what 
denomination.  She  intimated  that  she  desired  to  make 
a  donation  to  some  institution  of  learning,  and  was  rather 
inclined  to  select  the  Episcopal  Theological  Seminary, 
near  Alexandria,  Virginia.  The  president  sent  her  the 
following  reply  to  her  letter: 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  335 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  June  24,  1867. 
"Miss  ANN  UPSHUR  JONES, 

"No.  156  Lafayette  Avenue,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ^ 
"My  Dear  Madam:  I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive 
your  letter  of  the  lyth  inst.,  and  I  send  to  your  address  a 
catalogue  of  Washington  College  and  a  copy  of  its  charter 
and  laws.  On  the  thirty-seventh  page  of  the  former,  and 
the  eleventh  of  the  latter,  you  will  find  what  is  prescribed 
on  the  subject  of  religion.  I  do  not  know  that  it  ever 
has  been  sectarian  in  its  character  since  it  was  chartered 
as  a  college ;  but  it  certainly  is  not  so  now.  Located  in  a 
Presbyterian  community,  it  is  natural  that  most  of  its 
trustees  and  faculty  should  be  of  that  denomination, 
though  the  rector,  president,  and  several  of  the  professors 
are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  It  is  furthest 
from  my  wish  to  divert  any  donation  from  the  Theo 
logical  Seminary  at  Alexandria,  for  I  am  well  acquainted 
with  the  merits  of  that  institution,  have  a  high  respect  for 
its  professors,  and  am  an  earnest  advocate  of  its  object. 
I  only  give  you  the  information  you  desire,  and  wish  you 
to  follow  your  own  preferences  in  the  matter.  With 
great  respect, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

In  1869  she  wrote  again,  stating  that  she  proposed 
breaking  up  housekeeping,  that  she  had  no  family  to 
whom  to  give  her  books,  furniture,  and  silver,  that  she 
did  not  wish  to  sell  them  nor  store  them  away,  and  had 
.therefore  determined  to  present  them  to  the  "greatest 
living  man,"  and  she  begged  him  to  accept  them,  or,  if 
his  house  was  already  furnished,  to  make  use  of  them  in 
his  college.  To  this  letter  he  replied: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  13,   1869. 
"  My  Dear  Miss  Jones:   After  long  and  diligent  inquiry 
I  only  this  moment  learned  your  address,  and  have  been 


336       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

during  this  time  greatly  mortified  at  my  inability  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  and  disposition  of  your  valuable 
and  interesting  donation  to  Washington  College.  The 
books  were  arranged  in  the  library  on  their  arrival,  the 
globes  in  the  philosophical  department,  while  the  furni 
ture,  carpets,  sofas,  chairs,  etc.,  have  been  applied  to  the 
furnishing  of  the  dais  of  the  audience-room  of  the  new 
chapel,  to  the  comfort  and  ornament  of  which  they  are  a 
great  addition.  I  have  yet  made  no  disposition  of  the 
plate  and  tableware,  and  they  are  still  in  the  boxes  in 
which  they  came.  I  inclose  the  resolution  of  thanks 
passed  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  College  at  their 
annual  meeting,  to  which  I  beg  to  add  my  personal 
acknowledgments  and  grateful  sense  of  your  favour  and 
kindness  to  this  institution.  It  would  give  me  great 
pleasure  if  you  would  visit  Lexington  at  the  commence 
ment  in  June  next,  the  third  Thursday,  that  I  might  then 
show  you  the  successful  operation  of  the  college.  Mrs. 
Lee  joins  me  in  sentiments  of  esteem  and  regard,  praying 
that  the  great  and  merciful  God  may  throw  around  you 
His  protecting  care  and  love.  I  am,  with  great  respect, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"Miss  ANN  UPSHUR  JONES, 

"No.  38  Union  Square,  New  York." 

The  plate,  tableware,  and  a  curious  old  work-table,  for 
which  no  place  could  be  found  in  the  college,  valuable 
only  on  account  of  their  antiquity  and  quaint  ness,  he 
finally  allowed  to  be  called  his  own. 

When  my  mother  hurriedly  left  her  home  in  the  spring 
of  1 86 1,  she  found  it  impossible  to  carry  away  the  valu 
able  relics  of  General  Washington  which  her  father  had 
inherited  from  Mount  Vernon,  and  which  had  been  objects 
of  great  interest  at  Arlington  for  more  than  fifty  years. 
After  the  Federal  authorities  took  possession  of  the  place, 
the  most  valuable  of  these  Mount  Vernon  relics  were  con- 


MRS.  R.  E.  LEE  337 

veyed  to  Washington  City  and  placed  in  the  Patent  Office, 
where  they  remained  on  exhibition  for  many  years  labelled 
"Captured  from  Arlington."  They  were  then  removed 
to  the  "National  Museum,"  where  they  are  now,  but  the 
card  has  been  taken  off.  In  1869,  a  member  of  Congress 
suggested  to  my  mother  that  she  should  apply  to  Presi 
dent  Johnson  to  have  them  restored  to  her.  In  a  letter 
from  my  father  to  this  same  gentleman,  this  bit  of  quiet 
humour  occurs: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  12,  1869. 
".  .  .  Mrs.  Lee  has  determined  to  act  upon  your 
suggestion  and  apply  to  President  Johnson  for  such  of  the 
relics  from  Arlington  as  are  in  the  Patent  Office.  From 
what  I  have  learned,  a  great  many  things  formerly  belong 
ing  to  General  Washington,  bequeathed  to  her  by  her 
father,  in  the  shape  of  books,  furniture,  camp  equipage, 
etc.,  were  carried  away  by  individuals  and  are  now  scat 
tered  over  the  land.  I  hope  the  possessors  appreciate 
them  and  may  imitate  the  example  of  their  original 
owners,  whose  conduct  must  at  times  be  brought  to  their 
recollection  by  these  silent  monitors.  In  this  way  they 
will  accomplish  good  to  the  country.  .  .  ." 

He  refers  to  this  same  subject  in  a  letter  to  the 
Honourable  George  W.  Jones,  Dubuque,  Iowa: 

".  .  .  In  reference  to  certain  articles  which  were 
taken  from  Arlington,  about  which  you  inquire,  Mrs.  Lee 
is  indebted  to  our  old  friend  Captain  James  May  for  the 
order  from  the  present  administration  for  their  restora 
tion  to  her.  Congress,  however,  passed  a  resolution  for 
bidding  their  return.  They  were  valuable  to  her  as 
having  belonged  to  her  great -grandmother  (Mrs.  General 
Washington),  and  having  been  bequeathed  to  her  by  her 
father.  But  as  the  country  desires  them,  she  must  give 
them  up.  I  hope  their  presence  at  the  capital  will  keep 


338       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

in  the  remembrance  of  all  Americans  the  principles  and 
virtues  of  Washington.     .     .     ." 

To  the  Honourable  Thomas  Lawrence  Jones,  who 
endeavoured  to  have  the  order  to  restore  the  relics  to 
Mrs.  Lee  executed,  the  following  letter  of  thanks  was 
written : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  29,   1869. 
"  HONOURABLE  THOMAS  LAWRENCE  JONES, 

"  Washington  City,  District  of  Columbia. 
"My  Dear  Sir:  I  beg  to  be  allowed  to  tender  you  my 
sincere  thanks  for  your  efforts  to  have  restored  to  Mrs. 
Lee  certain  family  relics  in  the  Patent  Office  in  Washing 
ton.  The  facts  related  in  your  speech  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  on  the  3d  inst.,  so  far  as  known  to  me, 
are  correct,  and  had  I  conceived  the  view  taken  of  the 
matter  by  Congress  I  should  have  endeavoured  to  dis 
suade  Mrs.  Lee  from  applying  for  them.  It  may  be  a 
question  with  some  whether  the  retention  of  these  articles 
is  more  'an  insult,'  in  the  language  of  the  Committee  on 
Public  Buildings,  'to  the  loyal  people  of  the  United 
States,'  than  their  restoration;  but  of  this  I  am  willing 
that  they  should  be  the  judge,  and  since  Congress  has 
decided  to  keep  them,  she  must  submit.  However,  her 
thanks  to  you,  sir,  are  not  the  less  fervent  for  your  kind 
intercession  in  her  behalf,  and  with  highest  regards,  I  am, 
with  great  respect, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Washington's  opinion  of  this  transaction,  if  it  could  be 
obtained,  would  be  of  interest  to  many  Americans  !  * 

*  These  relics  were  restored  to   the  family  in  1903  by  the  order 
of  President  McKinley. 


CHAPTER  XIX 
LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  His  SONS 

THE  BUILDING  OF  ROBERT'S  HOUSE — THE  GENERAL  AS 
A  RAILROAD  DELEGATE LIONISED  IN  BALTIMORE- 
CALLS  ON  PRESIDENT  GRANT VISITS  ALEXANDRIA- 
DECLINES  TO  BE  INTERVIEWED INTERESTED  IN  HIS 

GRANDSON — THE    WASHINGTON    PORTRAITS 

MY  father,  being  very  anxious  that  I  should  build  a 
good  house  on  my  farm,  had  agreed  to  supply  the 
necessary  means,  and  was  interested  in  my  plans 
and  estimates.  In  a  letter  of  February  i8th,  after  a 
long  and  full  explanation  of  the  arrangements  for  the 
purchase  of  Smith's  Island  by  Fitzhugh  and  myself,  he 
writes : 

I  am  glad  that  you  are  considering  the 
construction  of  your  house  and  taking  steps  in 
the  matter.  Let  me  know  how  you  advance,  the 
amount  of  its  cost,  etc.,  and  when  I  can  help  you. 
.  .  .  The  fine  weather  we  have  had  this  winter 
must  have  enabled  you  to  advance  in  your  farm 
work  and  put  you  ahead  in  that,  so  you  will  come 
out  square,  I  hope.  We  are  as  usual,  your  poor 
mother  about  the  same,  the  girls  well,  and  I  tolerable. 
All  unite  in  much  love. 

"  Truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

A  week  later  he  writes  to  me  on  the  same  subject : 

339 


340       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  27,   1869. 

"  My  Dear  Son:  I  am  glad  you  have  obtained  a 
good  pair  of  oxen.  Try  to  get  another  pair  to  work 
with  them.  I  will  make  good  the  deficit  in  my  con 
tribution.  Your  fences  will  be  a  great  advantage 
to  you,  and  I  am  delighted  at  the  good  appearance 
of  your  wheat.  I  hope  it  will  continue  to  maturity. 
It  is  very  probable,  as  you  say,  however,  that  it 
may  fail  in  the  grain.  Should  you  find  it  so,  would 
it  not  be  well  next  year  to  experiment  with  phos 
phates  ?  That  must  be  the  quality  the  land  lacks.  Have 
you  yet  heard  from  Mr.  West  about  your  house  ?  What 
are  the  estimates?  Let  me  know.  The  difficulty  I  fear 
now  will  be  that  the  burning  of  the  bricks  may  draw  you 
away  from  your  crops.  You  must  try  not  to  neglect 
them.  What  would  the  bricks  cost  if  purchased?  Ask 

F to  cut  the  lumber  for  you.     I  will  furnish  the  funds 

to  pay  for  it.  I  hope  the  break  in  the  mill  may  not  prove 
serious,  and  that  you  may  be  able  to  make  up  your  delay 
in  plowing  occasioned  by  the  necessary  hauling.  I  am 
very  glad  to  hear  that  you  and  F—  —  can  visit  each  other 
so  easily.  It  will  be  advantageous  to  communicate  with 
each  other,  as  well  as  a  pleasure.  I  suppose  Tabb  has 
not  returned  to  the  White  House  yet.  I  am  delighted 
to  hear  that  she  and  her  boy  are  so  well.  They  will 
make  everything  on  the  Pamunkey  shine.  We  are  all 
as  usual. 

"  General  Breckenridge*  is  on  a  visit  to  his  sons  and  has 
been  with  us  to-day.  He  will  return  to  Baltimore  Mon 
day.  He  looks  well,  seems  cheerful,  and  talks  hopefully. 
All  unite  in  love  to  you,  and  your  acquaintances  inquire 
regularly  after  you.  I  think  of  you  very  often,  and  wish 
I  were  nearer  and  could  assist  you.  Custis  is  in  better 
health  this  winter  than  he  has  been,  and  seems  content, 
though  his  sisters  look  after  him  very  closely.  I  have  no 

*  General  John  C.  Breckenridge,  of  Kentucky,  ex-Secretary  of 
War  of  the  Confederate  States,  had  two  sons  at  Washington  College 
at  this  time.  One  of  them  was  since  United  States  Minister  at  the 
Court  of  St.  Petersburg. 


LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  HIS  SONS      341 

news  and  never  have.  General  B—  -  saw  Fitzhugh  Lee 
in  Alexandria.  He  told  him  he  was  a  great  farmer  now, 
and  when  he  was  away,  his  father,  who  had  now  taken 
to  the  land,  showed  uncommon  signs  of  management. 
Good-bye,  my  dear  son.  May  you  enjoy  every  happiness 
prays  Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"ROBERT  E.  LEE,  JR." 

The  completion  of  the  railroad  from  the  "White 
House"  to  "West  Point"  made  communication  between 
Fitzhugh  and  myself  very  easy.  On  February  i  ith,  my 
father  had  become  the  proud  and  happy  possessor  of  a 
grandson,  which  event  gave  him  great  joy.  Mr.  West, 
an  architect  of  Richmond,  had  drawn  me  up  plans  and 
estimates  for  a  house.  My  father  had  also  sent  me 
a  plan  drawn  by  himself.  These  plans  I  had  submitted 
to  several  builders  and  sent  their  bids  to  him  to  ex 
amine  and  consider.  In  the  following  letter,  he  gives  me 
his  opinion : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  21,  1869. 

"  My  Dear  Rob:  I  have  received  your  two  letters  of  the 
3d  and  gth  insts.,  and  would  have  answered  the  former 
before,  but  had  written  a  few  days  before  its  date,  and 
as  our  letters  had  been  crossing  each  other,  I  determined 
to  let  them  get  right. 

"  First,  as  to  Smith's  Island,  I  merely  want  to  fulfil  the 
conditions  of  the  sale  as  prescribed  in  the  published  notice. 
I  should  have  required  them  of  any  other  purchasers,  and 
must  require  them  of  you.  .  .  . 

"  Now  as  for  the  house :  The  estimates  of  your  bidders 
are  higher  than  I  anticipated,  and  I  think  too  high  by  at 
least  $1,000.  You  see,  there  is  about  $1,000  difference 
between  the  highest  and  lowest  of  their  offers  you  sent 


342        RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

me.  What  does  F—  -  say  about  it?  I  am  confident 
that  I  could  build  that  house  here  for  but  little  over 
$2,000,  including  materials,  and  I  could  do  it  there,  if 
I  could  get  two  good  workmen.  But  you  are  unaccus 
tomed  to  building,  and  I  would  not  advise  you  to  under 
take  it,  unless  you  could  engage  a  proper  foreman.  If, 
therefore,  I  were  in  your  place,  I  should  reject  all  the 
offers,  unless  the  one  you  had  not  received  when  you 
wrote  suited  better.  I  would  not,  however,  give  up  my 
house,  but  procure  the  bricks  either  by  purchase  or  by 
making  them  on  the  ground,  as  was  most  advantageous, 
and  the  shingles  in  the  same  way,  and  get  all  the  lumber 
and  flooring  prepared.  While  preparing  the  necessary 
materials,  I  would  see  the  builder  that  made  the  lowest 
offer,  or  any  other  that  I  preferred,  and  get  him  to  revise 
his  estimate  and  cut  it  down,  leaving  him  a  margin  for 
profit ;  and  when  satisfied  with  his  offer,  accept  it  and  set 
him  to  work. 

" Now  as  for  the  means:  I  understood  when  you  were 
here  that  you  could  manage  the  materials — that  is,  make 
arrangements  for  procuring  the  bricks,  lumber,  shingles, 
and  flooring.  Indeed,  you  might  also  get  the  lime  and 
sand  cheaper,  perhaps,  than  the  builder,  and  make  a 
deduction  on  his  bill.  I  can  let  you  have  funds  to  pay 
your  contractor.  If  I  did  not  understand  you  rightly— 
that  is,  if  you  cannot  procure  the  materials,  I  can  help 
you  in  them  too.  In  fact,  if  you  desire  so  much,  I  can 
let  you  have  the  whole  amount,  $3,500.  You  can  have 
the  use  of  it  without  interest,  and  return  it  to  me  when  I 
require  it,  or  sooner  if  you  are  able,  as  I  take  it  from  the 
fund  I  was  saving  for  a  homestead  for  your  mother.  At 
present,  I  cannot  use  it,  and  it  is  of  no  advantage  to  me, 
except  its  possession.  Will  that  suit  you  ?  If  it  does  not, 
let  me  know  what  will,  and  you  shall  have  that,  too. 
You  must  feel  that  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  do  anything 
I  can  for  you,  and  if  I  had  only  myself  to  consider,  you 
should  have  it  unconditionally,  but  I  must  consider  one 
person  above  all.  I  want  you  to  do,  therefore,  just  as 


LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  HIS  SONS  343 

you  prefer.  I  want  you  to  have  the  comfort  of  a  house, 
but  I  do  not  wish  to  force  one  upon  you,  against  your 
will  or  against  your  judgment.  I  merely  wish  you  to 
feel  that  you  can  procure  one  without  inconveniencing 
me.  The  only  hesitation  I  have  on  the  subject  is  that 
I  think  you  ought  to  get  a  better  house  for  $3,500 
than  I  fear  you  will  get.  The  house  according  to  the 
first  plan,  in  my  opinion,  ought  not  to  cost  more  than  that 
sum.  But  if  you  think  the  estimate  is  a  fair  one,  and 
are  satisfied,  accept  it  and  set  to  work.  But  consult 
Fitzhugh,  and  let  me  know  when  you  want  the  money, 
and  in  what  sums.  Now  that  is  plain,  I  hope,  so  keep 
this  letter  for  reference,  as  I  have  not  time  to  take  a 
copy. 

"We  are  all  pretty  well.  Your  mother  has  been 
'  toubled  by  a  cold,  but  is  over  it  I  hope.  The  girls  are 
well,  and  have  as  many  opinions  with  as  few  acts  as  ever ; 
and  Custis  so-so.  We  have  had  accounts  of  Lawrence 
Butler's  wedding,  and  all  were  as  gay  as  a  flock  of  snow 
birds.  They  regretted  your  absence.  I  will  ask  your 
mother  to  send  you  reports.  I  am  tolerable  and  wish 
I  could  get  down  to  see  you.  I  had  hoped  to  go  down 
this  spring,  but  I  fear  the  dilatoriness  of  the  workmen 
in  finishing  the  house,  and  the  necessity  of  my  attending 
to  it,  getting  the  grounds  inclosed  and  preparing  the 
garden,  will  prevent  me.  I  shall  also  have  to  superintend 
the  moving.  In  fact,  it  never  seems  convenient  for  me 
to  go  away.  Give  much  love  to'  F—  — ,  my  daughter 
Tabb,  and  grandson.  I  wonder  what  he  will  think  of  his 
grandpa.  All  unite  in  love,  and  I  am,  as  always, 

"Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"ROBERT  E.  LEE,  JR." 

In  April,  there  are  two  letters  written  on  the  same  day, 
to  each  of  his  sons,  Fitzhugh  and  myself.  I  had  deter 
mined  for  many  reasons  to  postpone  building  my  house 
for  the  present,  which  decision  my  father  regrets.  In 
the  matter  of  Smith's  Island,  the  arrangement  proposed 


344       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

by  my  brother  and  myself  for  its  purchase  was  agreed 
to  by  him: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  April  17,  1869. 
"  My  Dear  Rob:  I  have  written  to  Fitzhugh,  informing 
him  of  my  agreement  to  all  the  propositions  in  your  joint 
letter,  which  I  hope  will  be  satisfactory  to  you.  You 
can  read  my  letter  to  him,  so  I  will  not  repeat.  I  am 
sorry  that  you  have  concluded  not  to  build,  but  if,  in 
your  judgment,  that  is  the  best  course,  I  must  be  content. 
I  do  not  wish  you  to  hamper  yourself  with  obligations,  but 
to  my  mind  building  in  the  way  proposed  would  not  be 
onerous  to  you  and  would  have  given  you  the  use  of  a 
house  some  years  prior  to  the  time  that  you  may  be  able 
to  erect  one,  and  thus  have  added  to  your  comfort, 
health,  and  probable  ability  to  increase  your  resources 
from  your  farm.  But  I  hope  you  have  decided  wisely, 
and  should  circumstances  occur  to  cause  you  to  change 
your  views,  you  must  not  fail  to  let  me  know;  for  I  shall 
at  all  times  stand  ready  to  help  you  to  the  extent  of  my 
ability,  which  I  am  now  obliged  to  husband,  lest  I  may 
become  a  burden  to  others.  I  am  very  glad  to  learn  that 
your  farm  is  promising  better  in  the  second  cultivation  of 
the  fields,  and  feel  assured  that  if  treated  judiciously  it 
will  recover  its  fertility  and  be  remunerative.  If  you  can 
perceive  that  you  are  progressing,  though  with  a  slow 
and  regular  step,  you  have  cause  for  congratulation  and 
encouragement;  for  there  are  many,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
that  are  worse  off  now  than  when  they  commenced  at 
the  end  of  the  war,  and  have  to  begin  again.  Industry 
with  economy  must  prevail  in  the  end.  There  seems  to 
be  a  necessity  for  my  going  to  Baltimore  next  Tuesday, 
but  I  feel  so  poorly  now  that  I  do  not  know  that  I  shall 
be  able.  If  I  do  go,  it  will  interfere  materially  with  my 
proposed  visit  to  you  and  Fitzhugh  this  spring,  and  I 
fear  will  put  an  end  to  it.  I  shall  be  obliged  to  spend 
some  days  in  Alexandria  on  my  return,  and  could  not 
then  delay  my  return  here.  I  hope  to  see  you  both  some 


LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  HIS  SONS  345 

time  this  summer,  and,  if  I  cannot  get  to  you,  you  must 
come  to  me.  I  have  been  confined  to  the  house  for 
more  than  a  week  with  a  bad  cold,  the  effects  of  which 
still  cling  to  me,  and,  though  I  am  better  this  morning, 
I  am  suffering.  Your  mother,  too,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  has 
been  suffering  from  the  same  cause,  and  has  had  to  resort 
to  medicine,  as  well  as  myself.  You  know  that  is  bad  for 
old  people.  Agnes  has  not  been  well,  but  Mildred  is 
herself,  and  surrounded  by  her  two  fresh  broods  of 
kittens  she  would  not  call  the  king  her  uncle  .  .  . 
God  bless  you,  my  dear  son,  prays 

"Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"R.  E.  LEE,  JR." 

The  letter  to  his  son  Fitzhugh  is  mostly  upon  business, 
but  some  of  it  relates  to  more  interesting  matters : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  April  17,   1869. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:     I  expect  to  go  to  Baltimore  next 
Tuesday,  if  well  enough.     The  Valley  Railroad  Company 
are  very  anxious  for  me  to  accompany  their  delegation 
to  that  city  with  a  view  of  obtaining  from  the  mayor  or 
council   a    subscription   for   their   road,  and,  though    I 
believe  I  can  be  of  no  service  to  them,  they  have  made 
such  a  point  of  it  that  it  would  look  ill-mannered  and 
unkind  to  refuse.     I  wish  I  could  promise  myself  the 
pleasure  of  returning  by  the 'White  House,'  but  I  cannot. 
If  I  go  to  Baltimore,  I  must  take  time  to  pay  certain 
visits  and  must   stop   a  while  in  Alexandria.     I  shall, 
therefore,  from  there  be  obliged  to  return  here.     If  \ 
could  stop  there  on  my  way  to  Baltimore,  which  I  cannot 
for  want  of  time,  I  would  then  return  by  the  'White 
House/     I  shall  hope,  however,  to  see  you  and  Rob  during 
the  summer,  if  I  have  to  go  down  immediately  after 
commencement.     But  it  is  so  inconvenient  for  me  to 
leave  home  now  that  I  cannot  say.     .     .     .     Poor  little 
Agnes  also  has  been  visited  by  Doctor  Barton  of  late,  but 
she  is  on  the  mend.     'Life'  holds  her  own.     Both  of 


346       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

her  cats  have  fresh  broods  of  kittens,  and  the  world  wags 
cheerily  with  her.  Custis  is  well,  and  Mary  is  still  in 
New  York,  and  all  unite  with  me  in  much  love  to  you 
and  my  daughter  Tabb  and  my  grandson.  I  hope  the 
latter  has  not  formed  the  acquaintance  of  his  father  in 
the  same  manner  as  Warrington  Carter's  child. 

"  Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"GENERAL  WM.  H.  FITZHUGH  LEE." 


In  order  to  induce  the  city  of  Baltimore  to  aid  them 
in  building  their  railroad  from  Staunton  to  Salem,  the 
Valley  Railroad  Company  got  together  a  large  delegation 
from  the  counties  through  which  it  was  proposed  the 
line  should  pass,  and  sent  it  to  that  city  to  lay  the  plans 
before  the  mayor  and  council  and  request  assistance. 
Among  those  selected  from  Rockbridge  County  was 
General  Lee.  Lexington  at  this  time  was  one  of  the 
most  inaccessible  points  in  Virginia.  Fifty  miles  of 
canal,  or  twenty-three  of  staging  over  a  rough  mountain 
road,  were  the  only  routes  in  existence.  The  one  from 
Lynchburg  consumed  twelve  hours,  the  other,  from 
Goshen  (a  station  on  the  Chesapeake  &  Ohio  Railroad), 
from  seven  to  eleven.  On  one  occasion,  a  gentleman 
during  his  first  visit  to  Lexington  called  on  General  Lee 
and  on  bidding  him  good-bye  asked  him  the  best  way 
to  get  back  to  Washington. 

"It  makes  but  little  difference,"  replied  the  General, 
"for  whichever  route  you  select,  you  will  wish  you  had 
taken  the  other." 

It  was,  therefore,  the  desire  of  all  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  the  two  institutions  of  learning  located  in 
Lexington  that  this  road  should  be  built.  My  father's 
previous  habits  of  life,  his  nature  and  his  tastes  made 
him  averse  to  engaging  in  affairs  of  this  character ;  but 


LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  HIS  SONS  347 

because  of  the  great  advantage  to  the  college,  should  it  be 
carried  through,  and  at  the  earnest  request  of  many 
friends  of  his  and  of  the  road,  he  consented  to  act.  General 
John  Echols,  from  Staunton,  Colonel  Pendleton,  from 
Buchanan,  Judge  McLaughlin,  from  Lexington,  were 
amongst  those  who  went  with  him.  While  in  Baltimore 
he  stayed  at  the  house  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Tagart, 
whom  he  had  met  several  summers  at  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs. 

The  delegation  was  invited  to  the  floor  of  the  Corn 
and  Flour  Exchange,  to  meet  the  business  men  of  the 
city.  My  father,  for  the  same  reasons  given  above, 
earnestly  desired  to  be  excused  from  this  part  of  the 
programme,  and  asked  some  of  his  friends  to  see  Mr. 
John  W.  Garrett,  the  president  of  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  Railroad,  who  had  the  delegation  in  charge,  and 
try  to  have  it  so  arranged.  Mr.  Garrett,  however,  was 
very  positive. 

"General  Lee  is  a  most  interesting  man;  I  think  he 
had  better  come,"  was  the  message  brought  back  to  him. 

As  he  appeared  on  the  floor,  which  was  filled  with  a 
great  crowd,  he  was  greeted  with  deafening  cheers,  and 
was  soon  surrounded  by  the  thousands  who  had  assembled 
there  to  see  him.  Everywhere  that  he  appeared  in  the 
city  he  received  an  ovation.  Sunday  intervening,  he 
attended  service  in  the  morning  at  St.  Paul's  church  on 
Charles  Street.  When  it  became  known  that  General 
Lee  was  there,  large  numbers  collected  to  see  him  come 
out,  waiting  patiently  and  quietly  until  the  congregation 
was  dismissed.  As  he  appeared  at  the  door,  all  heads 
were  uncovered  and  kept  so  until  he  had  passed  through 
the  long  lines  extending  down  the  street. 

A  reception  was  given  by  Mr.  Tagart  in  his  honour. 


348       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

There  his  friends  crowded  to  see  him,  and  the  greatest 
affection  and  deference  were  shown  him.  He  had  lived  in 
Baltimore  about  twenty  years  before  this  time,  and 
many  of  his  old  friends  were  still  there ;  besides,  Baltimore 
had  sent  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  a  large  body 
of  her  noble  sons,  who  were  only  too  glad  to  greet  once 
more  their  former  commander.  That  he  was  still  "a 
prisoner  on  parole,"  disfranchised  from  all  civil  rights, 
made  their  love  for  him  stronger  and  their  welcome 
the  more  hearty.  On  his  return  to  Lexington,  he 
was  asked  how  he  enjoyed  his  visit.  With  a  sad 
smile,  he  said: 

"  Very  much ;  but  they  would  make  too  much  fuss  over 
the  old  rebel." 

A  few  days  after  he  came  home,  when  one  of  his 
daughters  remonstrated  with  him  about  the  hat  he  was 
wearing,  he  replied: 

"You  don't  like  this  hat?  Why,  I  have  seen  a  whole 
cityful  come  out  to  admire  it !" 

There  is  only  a  short  note  to  my  mother  that  I  can 
find  written  during  this  trip: 


"BALTIMORE,  April  27, 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  am  still  at  Mr.  Tagart's,  but 
propose  going  to-morrow  to  Ella's,  and  thence  to  Wash 
ington's,  which  will  consume  Wednesday  and  Thursday. 
If  not  obliged  to  return  here,  which  I  cannot  tell  till  this 
evening  or  to-morrow  morning,  I  will  then  go  to  Wash 
ington,  where  I  shall  be  obliged  to  spend  a  day  or  two, 
and  thence  to  Alexandria,  so  I  shall  not  be  able  to  return 
to  Lexington  till  the  last  of  next  week.  What  has  become 
of  little  Agnes  ?  I  have  seen  many  of  our  old  friends,  of 
whom  I  will  tell  you  on  my  return.  I  have  bought  you 
a  little  carriage,  the  best  I  could  find,  which  I  hope  will 
enable  you  to  take  some  pleasant  rides.  All  send  love. 


LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  HIS  SONS      349 

Give  mine  to  Mildred,  and  Custis,  and  all  friends.     I  am 
just  about  starting  to  Mrs.  Baker's. 

"Truly  and  affectionately,         R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 

The  "Ella"  mentioned  was  Mrs.  Sam  George,  of 
Baltimore,  who  as  a  girl  had  always  been  a  pet  and 
favourite  of  my  father.  She  was  a  daughter  of  his  first 
cousin,  Mr.  Charles  Henry  Carter,  of  "Goodwood," 
Prince  George  County,  Maryland,  and  a  schoolmate  of 
my  sister  Mary.  Their  country  place  was  near  Ellicott 
City.  He  went  there  to  see  her,  and  from  there  to  "  Lyn- 
wood,"  near  by,  the  seat  of  Washington  Peter,  my 
mother's  first  cousin  and  an  intimate  friend  of  us  all. 

On  Saturday,  my  father,  accompanied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Tagart,  went  to  Washington  on  an  early  train.  They 
drove  immediately  to  the  Executive  Mansion  and  called 
on  the  President.  This  meeting  was  of  no  political 
significance  whatever,  but  simply  a  call  of  courtesy. 
It  had  been  intimated  to  General  Lee  that  it  would  be 
most  agreeable  to  General  Grant  to  receive  him.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tagart  went  with  him,  and.  they  met  there  Mr. 
Motley,  the  newly  appointed  Minister  to  England.  The 
interview  lasted  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  neither 
General  Lee  nor  the  President  spoke  a  word  on  political 
matters.  While  in  Washington  my  father  was  the  guest 
of  Mrs.  Kennon,  of  Tudor  Place,  Georgetown  Heights. 
On  Sunday  he  dined  with  Mrs.  Podestad  and  her  husband, 
the  Secretary  of  the  Spanish  Legation,  who  were  old 
friends  and  relatives. 

After  leaving  Washington,  he  stopped  in  Alexandria 
for  several  days,  as  the  guest  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Fitzhugh.  It 
was  at  her  country  place,  "  Ravensworth, "  about  ten 
miles  from  town,  that  his  mother  had  died,  and  there,  in 


350       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  old  ivy-covered  graveyard,  she  was  buried.  Mrs. 
Fitzhugh  was  the  wife  of  my  mother's  uncle,  Mr.  William 
Henry  Fitzhugh,  who,  having  no  children,  had  made  my 
mother  his  heir.  The  intimacy  between  "Arlington" 
and  ' '  Ravensworth ' '  was  very  close.  Since  Mr.  Fitzhugh's 
death,  which  occurred  some  thirty  years  prior  to  this 
time,  my  father  and  mother  and  their  children  had  been 
^hrown  a  great  deal  with  his  widow,  and  "Aunt  Maria," 
as  we  called  her,  became  almost  a  member  of  the  family. 
She  had  the  greatest  love  and  admiration  for  "Robert," 
sought  his  advice  in  the  management  of  her  estate,  and 
trusted  him  implicitly.  His  brother,  Admiral  Sidney 
Smith  Lee,  came  up  from  "Richland,"  his  home  on  the 
Potomac  near  Acquia  Creek,  to  meet  him,  and  he  found 
at  Mrs.  Fitzhugh's  "Aunt  Nannie"*  and  her  son  Fitz. 
Lee.  This  was  the  first  time  they  had  met  each  other 
since  their  parting  in  Richmond  just  after  the  war. 

On  his  arrival  in  Alexandria  my  father  had  walked  up 
from  the  wharf  to  "Aunt  Maria's."  He  was  recognised 
by  a  number  of  citizens,  who  showed  him  the  greatest 
deference  and  respect.  So  many  of  his  friends  called  upon 
him  at  Mrs.  Fitzhugh's  that  it  was  arranged  to  have  a 
reception  for  him  at  the  Mansion  House.  For  three 
hours  a  constant  stream  of  visitors  poured  into  the 
parlours.  The  reception  was  the  greatest  ovation  that 
any  individual  had  received  from  the  people  of  Alexandria 
since  the  days  of  Washington.  The  next  day,  in  Bishop 
Johns*  carriage,  he  drove  out  to  Seminary  Hill  to  the 
home  of  Mr.  Cassius  F.  Lee,  his  first  cousin,  where  he 
spent  the  night.  In  the  afternoon  he  went  to  see  the 
bishop  and  his  family — General  Cooper  and  the  Reverend 
Dr.  Packard.  The  next  morning,  with  Uncle  Smith,  he 

*Mrs.   S.   S.   Lee. 


LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  HIS  SONS  351 

attended  Ascension- Day  services  at  Christ  church,  and 
was  afterward  entertained  at  a  dinner-party  given  by 
Mi  John  B.  Daingerfield.  Before  he  left  Alexandria 
he  called  on  Mr.  John  Janney,  who  was  president  of  the 
Virginia  Convention  in  1861,  when,  as  Colonel  Lee,  he 
appeared  before  it  and  accepted  the  command  of  the 
Virginia  forces,  organised  and  to  be  organised. 

One  evening  a  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald 
paid  him  a.  visit  for  the  purpose  of  securing  an  interview. 
The  General  was  courteous  and  polite,  but  very  firm. 
He  stood  during  the  interview,  and  finally  dismissed  the 
reporter,  saying: 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you  as  a  friend,  but  request 
that  the  visit  may  not  be  made  in  your  professional 
capacity." 

The  same  correspondent  had  tried  to  interview  him,  for 
his  paper,  while  he  was  in  Baltimore,  but  had  failed. 

My  father  was  much  amused  at  an  occurrence  that 
took  place  during  this  visit.  Late  one  afternoon  a  visitor 
was  announced.  As  the  General  was  very  tired,  Uncle 
Smith  Lee  volunteered  to  relieve  him.  The  visitor  was 
found  to  be  an  Irishwoman,  very  stout  and  unprepos 
sessing,  who  asked  if  she  could  see  the  General.  The 
Admiral  bowed,  intimating  that  he  was  the  desired 
person,  when  she  said: 

"  My  boy  was  with  you  in  the  war,  honey,  and  I  must 
kiss  you  for  his  sake."  And  with  that  she  gave  the 
Admiral  an  embrace  and  a  kiss.  Mr.  Cassius  Lee,  to 
whom  he  told  this,  suggested  that  he  should  take 
General  Fitz.  Lee  along  to  put  forward  in  such 
emergencies. 

My  father's  first  letter  after  his  return  to  Lexington 
was  the  following: 


352       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  May  n,  1869. 
"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  reached  here  last  Saturday, 
bringing  Agnes  and  Miss  Peyton  with  me  from  Staunton. 
Found  everybody  well  and  Custis  better.  I  had,  upon 
the  whole,  a  pleasant  visit,  and  was  particularly  glad  to 
see  again  our  old  friends  and  neighbours  in  Alexandria 
and  vicinity;  though  should  have  preferred  to  enjoy 
their  company  in  a  more  quiet  way.  Your  Uncle  Smith 
came  up  to  meet  me,  and  your  Aunt  Nannie  and  Fitz. 
were  there.  I  had  not  seen  them  since  I  parted  from 
them  in  Richmond  after  the  war.  I  wish  I  could  have 
visited  you  and  Rob  and  have  seen  my  daughter  and 
grandson;  but  that  pleasure,  I  trust,  is  preserved  for  a 
future  day.  How  is  the  little  fellow?  I  was  much 
relieved  after  parting  from  you  to  hear  from  the  doctors 
that  it  was  the  best  time  for  him  to  have  the  whooping- 
cough,  in  which  opinion  the  'Mim'  concurs.  I  hope 
that  he  is  doing  well.  Bishop  Whittle  will  be  here  Friday 
next  and  is  invited  to  stay  with  us.  There  are  to  be  a 
great  many  preparatory  religious  exercises  this  week. 
A  great  feeling  of  religion  pervades  the  young  in  the 
community,  especially  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute. 
All  send  love. 

''Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Since  his  establishment  in  Lexington,  General  Lee 
had  been  a  member  of  the  vestry  of  Grace  (Episcopal) 
church.  At  the  council  of  1868,  which  met  at  Lynch- 
burg,  he  had  been  sent  as  a  delegate,  and  spent  three  days 
there.  This  year  the  council  was  to  meet  in  Fredericks- 
burg,  and  he  was  again  elected  to  represent  his  church. 
This  was  a  busy  time  with  him.  The  examinations  were 
commencing,  his  new  home  was  about  ready  to  move 
into,  and  the  preparations  for  the  commencement  exer 
cises  had  to  be  made;  yet  he  accepted  the  trust  imposed 
upon  him  by  his  church  and  took  a  week  out  of  his  valu- 


LEE'S  LETTERS  TO  HIS  SONS  353 

able  time  to  perform  it.  In  his  next  letter  to  his  son, 
after  writing  on  some  Smith's  Island  business,  he  tells 
him  of  his  proposed  journey  to  Fredericksburg  and  of 
his  regret  at  not  being  able  to  visit  him  as  he  had  intended : 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,   May   22,    1869. 

"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  The  weather  here  has  been  very 
hard  on  the  corn-fields,  and  I  hear  of  many  having  to  be 
replanted.  The  wheat,  so  far,  is  very  promising,  and  I 
am  glad  to  hear  that  yours  and  Rob's  is  equally  so.  I 
have  been  elected  by  our  little  church  to  represent  it  at 
the  coming  convention,  and  have  concluded  to  go.  I 
shall  leave  for  Fredericksburg  Tuesday,  June  ist,  and 
shall  endeavour  while  there  to  spend  a  night  with  your 
Uncle  Smith,  the  only  visit  I  shall  be  able  to  make  him. 
It  is  very  inconvenient  for  me  to  be  absent  at  this  time. 
The  examination  of  the  senior  classes  is  in  progress,  and 
I  must  hasten  back  to  attend  as  many  as  I  can.  The 
new  house  is  about  finished.  The  contractors  say  they 
will  deliver  the  keys  on  Monday,  the  3ist  inst.  I  will 
make  arrangements  to  have  it  cleaned  out  during  the 
week,  so  as  to  be  able  to  move  in  on  my  return.  The 
commencement,  a  busy  time  with  me,  is  approaching, 
and  we  must  try  to  be  prepared.  I  shall  not,  therefore, 
be  able  to  pay  you  a  visit  at  this  time,  but  hope  Custis 
and  I  will  be  able  to  do  so  after  the  close  of  the  session. 
I  met  Bishop  Whittle  at  Lynchburg  last  convention, 
and  was  much  pleased  with  him.  My  favourable  im 
pressions  were  much  strengthened  and  increased  by  this 
visit  here. 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  learn  that  my  little  grandson  is  getting 
on  so  well  with  his  whooping-cough.  You  must  kiss 
him  and  his  mother  for  me.  We  are  all  about  the  same. 
Your  mother  is  becoming  interested  in  her  painting 
again,  and  is  employing  her  brush  for  the  benefit  of  our 
little  church,  which  is  very  poor.  She  yet  awhile  con 
fines  herself  to  colouring  photographs,  and  principally 
to  those  of  General  and  Mrs.  Washington,  which  are  sold 


354       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

very  readily.  The  girls  are  well,  and  have  Miss  Peyton 
with  them  still.  Custis,  I  hope,  is  better.  He  is  getting 
over  some  of  his  confinement  with  his  classes  now,  which 
I  hope  will  be  of  benefit  to  him.  Give  my  love  to  Robert 
and  tell  my  daughter  Tabb  I  long  to  see  her.  All  unite 
with  me  in  affectionate  love.  I  am, 

"  Truly   your   father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

These  photographs  that  were  being  coloured  by  my 
mother  were  from  the  original  portraits  of  General 
Washington  by  Peale  and  of  Mrs.  Washington  by  W—  — . 
These  paintings  hung  at  Mt.  Vernon  until  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Washington,  and  were  then  inherited  by  my  grand 
father,  Mr.  Custis.  They  were  at  "Arlington"  till  '61, 
when  they  were  removed  to  "Ravens worth,"  where  they 
remained  until  the  end  of  the  war.  When  they  were  being 
sent  to  Lexington,  the  boat  carrying  them  on  the  canal 
between  Lynchburg  and  Lexington  sank.  These  pictures, 
with  many  others  belonging  to  my  mother,  were  very 
much  injured  and  had  to  be  sent  to  a  restorer  in  Balti 
more,  who  made  them  as  good  as  ever,  and  they  were 
finally  safely  hung  in  the  president's  house  in  Lexington, 
and  are  now  in  the  library  of  the  university.  My  mother 
coloured  the  photographs  like  these  originals,  and  sold  a 
great  many,  on  account  of  their  association  rather  than 
their  merit. 

There  must  have  been  some  change  of  date  in  my 
father's  plans,  for  though  he  said  he  would  start  on  June 
ist  for  Fredericksburg,  his  first  and  only  letter  from  there 
was  written  on  May  28th: 

"FREDERICKSBURG,  May  28,  1869. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  reached  here  Tuesday  night,  the 
night  after  the  morning  I  left  you,  about  twelve  o'clock, 


LEE'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  SONS      355 

and  found  Major  Barton  at  the  depot,  who  conducted 
me  to  his  house.  The  town  seems  very  full  of  strangers, 
and  I  have  met  many  acquaintances.  I  have  seen  no 
one  yet  from  'Cedar  Grove,'  and  cannot  learn  whether 
any  of  them  are  coming.  They  are  no  doubt  in  distress 
there,  for  you  may  have  heard  of  the  death  of  Charles 
Stuart,  on  his  way  from  Arkansas.  He  died  at  Lynch- 
burg  of  congestive  chills.  Harriott  Cazenove  (his  sister) 
went  on  to  see  him,  but  he  died  before  her  arrival.  Rosalie, 
I  heard,  was  at  'Cedar  Grove,'  Turbeville  in  Essex.  I 
have  delivered  all  your  packages  but  Margaret's.  Cas- 
sius  Lee  and  all  from  the  seminary  are  here.  Sally  came 
up  from  Gloucester,  and  also  Mrs.  Taliaferro.  But  I 
must  tell  you  of  all  occurrences  upon  my  return,  and  of 
all  whom  I  have  met.  All  friends  inquire  very  particu 
larly  and  affectionately  after  you,  particularly  your  cousin, 
Mrs.  ,  who  turns  up  ever  day  at  all  assemblies,  cor 
ners,  and  places,  with  some  anxious  question  on  her  mind 
upon  which  some  mighty — though  to  me  hidden — impor 
tance  depends.  Fitz.  Lee  arrived  to-day,  though  I  have 
not  seen  him  yet.  If  I  can  accomplish  it,  I  will  go  to 
'Richland'  to-morrow,  Saturday,  and  spend  Sunday, 
and  take  up  my  line  of  march  Monday,  in  which  event 
I  hope  to  reach  Lexington  Wednesday  morning,  or  rather 
Tuesday  night,  in  the  stage  from  Goshen.  I  may  not 
be  able  to  get  away  from  the  council  before  Monday.  In 
that  case,  I  shall  not  Arrive  before  Wednesday  night. 
Tell  the  girls  there  are  quantities  of  young  girls  here  and 
people  of  all  kinds.  I  hope  that  you  are  all  well,  and  that 
everything  will  be  ready  to  move  into  our  new  house 
upon  my  arrival.  I  am  obliged  to  stop.  I  am  so  much 
interrupted  and  occupied  that,  though  I  have  tried  to 
write  ever  since  my  arrival,  I  have  been  unable.  Love 
to  all. 

"Very  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 


356       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

" Cedar  Grove"  was  the  plantation  of  Dr.  Richard 
Stuart,  in  King  George  County,  some  fifty  miles  from 
Fredericksburg.  His  wife,  a  Miss  Calvert,  of  "Rivers- 
dale,"  Maryland,  was  a  near  cousin  of  my  mother,  had 
been  her  bridesmaid,  and  the  two  families  had  been 
intimate  all  their  lives.  All  the  persons  mentioned  by 
my  father  were  cousins  and  friends,  several  of  them  old 
neighbours  from  Alexandria  and  the  Theological  Semi 
nary  near  by. 

From  Fredericksburg,  after  the  completion  of  his 
duties  at  the  council,  he  went  to  "  Richland  "  on  the| 
Potomac,  near'  Acquia  Creek,  where  his  brother  Smith 
was  then  living.  This  meeting  was  a  great  pleasure  to 
them  both,  for  two  brothers  were  never  more  devoted. 
This  was  the  last  time  they  saw  one  another  alive,  as 
Smith  died  two  months  afterward. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON 

NUMEROUS    GUESTS — FURTHER    SOJOURNS    AT     DIFFERENT 

BATHS DEATH    OF    THE    GENERAL'S    BROTHER,    SMITH 

LEE VISITS    TO    "  RAVENSWORTH "    AND    "  THE    WHITE 

HOUSE" MEETINGS    WITH    INTERESTING    PEOPLE    AT 

WHITE      SULPHUR      SPRINGS DEATH      OF      PROFESSOR 

PRESTON 

ON  my  father's  return  to  Lexington  the  new  house 
was  ready.  It  adjoined  the  one  he  had  been  occupying, 
so  the  distance  was  not  great  and  the  transfer  was  easily 
accomplished.  It  was  much  larger  and  more  comfortable 
than  the  one  given  up.  My  mother's  room  was  on  the 
first  floor  and  opened  out  on  the  veranda,  extending  three 
sides  of  the  house,  where  she  could  be  rolled  in  her  chair. 
This  she  enjoyed  intensely,  for  she  was  very  fond  of  the 
open  air,  and  one  could  see  her  there  every  bright  day, 
with  Mrs.  "Ruffner,"  a  much  petted  cat,  sitting  on  her 
shoulder  or  cradled  in  her  lap.  My  father's  favourite  seat 
was  in  a  deep  window  of  the  dining-room,  from  which 
his  eyes  could  rest  on  rolling  fields  of  grass  and  grain, 
bounded  by  the  ever-changing  mountains.  After  his 
early  and  simple  dinner,  he  usually  took  a  nap  of  a  few 
minutes,  sitting  upright  in  his  chair,  his  hand  held  and 
rubbed  by  one  of  his  daughters.  There  was  a  new  stable, 
warm  and  sunny,  for  Traveller  and  his  companion, 
"  Lucy  Long,"  a  cow-house,  wood-shed,  garden,  and  yard, 

357 


358       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

all  planned,  laid  out,  and  built  by  my  father.  The 
increased  room  enabled  him  to  invite  a  greater  number 
to  visit  him,  and  this  summer  the  house  was  full. 

In  answer  to  a  letter  from  me  on  business,  which 
reached  him  during  commencement  week,  he  writes: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  June  19,  1869. 

"My  Dear  Son:  I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  the 
loth,  and  have  only  time  for  a  word.  ...  I  hope 
all  things  are  going  well  with  you  both.  With  the  im 
provement  of  your  farm,  proceeds  will  increase,  and, 
with  experience,  judgment,  and  economy,  will  augment 
greatly.  You  will  have  to  get  married  if  you  wish  to 
prosper,  and  must  therefore  make  arrangements  to  build 
your  house  this  fall.  If  I  live  through  this  coming  week, 
I  wish  to  pay  you  and  F—  -  a  visit  the  week  following, 
about  July  ist.  I  am  trying  to  persuade  Custis  to  accom 
pany  me,  but  he  has  not  yet  responded.  I  am  very 
much  occupied  with  examinations,  visitors,  arrange 
ments,  etc. 

"All  are  well,  and  would  send  love  if  accessible.    Mil 
dred  is  full  of  housekeeping  and  dresses,  and  the  house 
is  full  of  young  ladies — Misses  Jones,  Albert,  Burwell, 
Fairfax,  and  Wickham ;  others  in  expectation.     Good-bye, 
"Affectionately  your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 

"ROBERT  E.  LEE,  JR." 

Ten  days  later,  he  writes  to  his  son,  Fitzhugh,  giving 
up  his  proposed  visit  to  him  at  this  time,  expressing  his 
regrets  at  the  necessity,  and  telling  his  reasons  for  so 
doing : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  June  30,   1869. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  This  is  the  day  that  I  had  proposed 
to  visit  you,  but  I  find  it  impossible  to  get  away.     I  find 
a  great  deal  to  do  in  closing  up  the  past  session  and  in 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON          359 

preparing  for  the  new.  In  addition,  our  college  officers 
have  all  been  changed — proctor,  clerk,  treasurer,  librarian 
— and  the  new  incumbents  enter  upon  their  duties  to 
morrow.  I  shall  have  to  be  with  them  some  days  to 
initiate  and  install  them.  That  would  only  delay  me, 
but  then  on  the  i$th  proximo  the  Educational  Associa 
tion  of  Virginia  will  meet  here,  and  I  should  not  be  able 
to  return  in  time.  As  I  have  never  attended  any  of 
their  meetings  when  elsewhere,  if  I  were  to  go  away 
when  appointed  here  it  would  look  as  if  I  wished  to 
avoid  them,  which  is  not  the  case.  After  that  is  over, 
I  must  locate  your  poor  mother  at  the  Baths,*  which  she 
has  made  up  her  mind  to  visit,  and  prepare  to  go  myself 
to  the  White  Sulphur,  the  waters  of  which  I  want  to 
drink  for  three  or  four  weeks.  So  I  do  not  see  how  I 
could  get  to  the  Pamunkey  before  the  fall.  I  want  to 
get  there  very  much  to  see  you  all,  and,  as  far  as  my 
personal  predilections  are  concerned,  would  rather  go 
there  than  to  the  White ;  but  the  doctors  think  it  would 
not  be  so  beneficial  to  me,  and  I  am  obliged  now  to  con 
sider  my  health.  I  propose,  therefore,  that  you  bring 
Tabb  and  the  baby  up  to  the  mountains  and  leave  them 
either  at  the  Baths  with  'the  Mim'  or  with  me,  if  you 
cannot  remain.  Tell  Rob,  if  he  can,  he  must  also  come 
and  see  us.  If  he  were  here,  now,  he  would  find  very 
pleasant  company,  Misses  Jones,  Albert,  Kirkland,  Burwell, 
Fairfax,  and  Wickham,  all  in  the  house,  with  others  out 
of  it.  They  are  so  much  engaged  with  the  collegiates 
that  Custis  and  I  see  but  little  of  them,  but  he  could 
compete  with  the  yearlings,  which  we  cannot.  Tell  my 
daughter  Tabb,  her  father  is  here,  very  well,  and  dined 
with  us  yesterday.  Give  my  much  love  to  grandson. 
He  must  not  forget  me.  I  have  a  puppy  and  a  kitten 
for  him  to  play  with.  All  send  love. 
"Truly  your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
" GENERAL  WILLIAM  H.  FITZHUGH  LEE." 

*  Rockbridge  Baths. 


360       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

In  a  letter  dated  Lexington,  Virginia,  July  gth,  he 
gives  a  further  account  of  his  plans  for  the  summer : 

" .  .  .  I  have  delivered  your  letter  to  Mildred,  who 
has  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  the  University  of  Virginia, 
where  she  saw  a  great  many  persons  and  met  with  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure.  She  ought  to  be,  and  I  believe  is, 
satisfied  with  commencements  for  this  year,  having  par 
ticipated  in  three.  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you  that  I  cannot 
go  down  to  the  Pamunkey  this  summer  as  I  had  intended ; 
.  .  .  I  had  hoped  to  be  able,  after  the  conclusion  of  the 
commencement  exercises  of  Washington  College,  to  visit 
the  Pamunkey,  and  to  return  by  the  i5th  inst.  so  as  to 
be  present  at  the  Convention  of  the  Teachers  of  Virginia, 
which  assembles  here  on  that  day ;  but  I  was  detained  here 
so  long  that  I  found  I  would  be  unable  to  accomplish 
what  I  desired.  Custis,  who  was  to  have  accompanied 
me,  will  go  down  in  a  day  or  two.  .  .  . 

"  About  the  2oth  of  this  month  I  shall  go  to  the  Rock- 
bridge  Baths  with  Mrs.  Lee,  who  wishes  to  try  the  waters 
again,  and  after  seeing  her  comfortably  located,  if  noth 
ing  prevents,  I  shall  go  with  Mildred  and  Agnes  to  the 
White  Sulphur  for  a  few  weeks.  .  .  .  It  is  delight 
fully  quiet  here  now.  Both  institutions  have  closed, 
and  all  are  off  enjoying  their  holiday.  I  should  like  to 
remain,  if  I  could.  Colonels  Shipp  and  Harding  have 
gone  to  get  married,  report  says.  Colonel  Lyle  and  Captain 
Henderson,  it  is  said,  will  not  return.  Captain  Preston 
having  been  appointed  professor  at  William  and  Mary, 
we  shall  necessarily  lose  him,  but  Colonel  Allan  will  be 
back,  and  all  the  rest.  We  are  as  well  as  you  left  us. 
The  girls  had  several  of  their  friends  at  commencement. 
All  have  departed  except  Miss  Fairfax  and  Miss  Wickham. 
The  election  is  over  and  the  town  is  tranquil." 

The  quiet  and  rest  which  he  so  much  desired,  and 
which  he  was  enjoying  when  he  wrote,  did  not  long 
remain  his.  He  had  just  gotten  my  mother  comfortably 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON         361 

settled  at  the  Baths,  when  he  received  the  news  of  the 
sudden  death  of  his  brother  Smith.  He  went  at  once  to 
Alexandria,  hoping  to  be  in  time  for  the  burial.  From 
there  he  writes  my  mother: 

"ALEXANDRIA,  July  25,  1869. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  arrived  here  last  evening,  too  late 
to  attend  the  burial  of  my  dear  brother,  an  account  of 
which  I  have  clipped  from  the  Alexandria  Gazette  and 
inclose  to  you.  I  wish  you  would  preserve  it.  Fitz. 
and  Mary  went  up  to  '  Ravensworth '  the  evening  of  the 
funeral  services,  Friday,  23d,  so  that  I  have  not  seen 
them,  but  my  nephew  Smith  is  here,  and  from  him  I  have 
learned  all  particulars.  The  attack  of  his  father  was 
short,  and  his  death  apparently  unexpected  until  a  short 
time  before  it  occurred.  Mary*  was  present,  and  I  hope 
of  some  comfort  to  her  uncle  and  assistance  to  her  aunt. 
Fitz.  came  here  the  afternoon  of  his  father's  death,  Thurs 
day,  22d,  made  all  arrangements  for  the  funeral,  went 
out  to  '  Ravensworth '  to  announce  the  intelligence  to  our 
aunt.  He  carried  down,  Friday  morning,  on  the  steamer, 
Mrs.  Cooper  and  Jennie,  to  stay  with  his  mother,  and 
returned  that  afternoon  with  his  father's  remains,  which 
were  committed  to  earth  as  you  will  see  described. 

"John  returned  the  next  morning,  yesterday,  in  the 
mail-boat,  to  his  mother,  with  whom  Dan  stayed.  Robert 
arrived  this  morning  and  has  gone  to  'Ravensworth'  to 
announce  my  arrival.  I  shall  remain  here  until  I  see  or 
hear  from  Fitz.,  for,  as  you  will  see  by  the  Gazette's  account, 
the  last  resting-place  of  the  body  has  not  been  determined 
upon.  Fitz.,  I  understand,  wishes  it  interred  at  Holly 
wood,  Richmond;  Nannie  at  the  cemetery  here,  where 
her  father,  mother,  and  daughter  are  buried;  and  Mrs. 
Fitzhugh  at  'Ravensworth.'  I  think  Nannie's  wishes 
should  be  consulted.  I  shall  probably  leave  to-day  or 
to-morrow,  and,  after  seeing  all  that  remains  to  us  of  our 

*General  Lee's  eldest  daughter. 


362       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

dear  brother  deposited  in  its  last  earthly  home,  and  min 
gling  my  sorrow  for  a  brief  season  with  that  of  his  dear 
wife  and  children,  I  shall  return  to  you.  Please  send 
this  letter  after  perusal  to  Agnes  and  Mildred,  as  I  shall 
be  unable  to  write  to  them.  I  am  staying  at  the  Mansion 
House.  Our  Aunt  Maria  did  not  come  down  to  the 
funeral  services,  prevented,  I  fear,  by  her  rheumatic 
attack.  May  God  bless  us  all  and  preserve  us  for  the  time 
when  we,  too,  must  part,  the  one  from  the  other,  which  is 
now  close  at  hand,  and  may  we  all  meet  again  at  the  foot 
stool  of  our  merciful  God,  to  be  joined  by  His  eternal  love 
never  more  to  separate. 

"  Most  truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 


The  loss  of  his  brother  was  a  great  sorrow  to  him.  They 
were  devoted  to  each  other,  having  always  kept  warm 
their  boyish  love.  Smith's  admiration  for  and  trust  in 
my  father  were  unbounded,  and  it  was  delightful  to  see 
them  together  and  listen  to  the  stories  of  the  happy  long 
ago  they  would  tell  about  each  other.  No  one  could  be 
near  my  Uncle  Smith  without  feeling  his  joyful  influence. 
My  sister  Mary,  who  knew  him  long  and  well,  and  who 
was  much  attached  to  him,  thus  writes  : 

"  No  one  who  ever  saw  him  can  forget  his  beautiful 
face,  charming  personality,  and  grace  of  manner  which, 
joined  to  a  nobility  of  character  and  goodness  of  heart, 
attracted  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him,  and  made 
him  the  most  generally  beloved  and  popular  of  men. 
This  was  especially  so  with  women,  to  whom  his  conduct 
was  that  of  a  preuoc  chevalier,  the  most  chivalric  and  cour 
teous;  and,  having  no  daughters  of  his  own,  he  turned 
with  the  tenderest  affection  to  the  daughters  of  his  brother 
Robert." 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON          363 

After  all  the  arrangements  connected  with  this  sad 
event  had  been  completed,  my  father  went  up  to 
"Ravensworth"  to  see  "Aunt  Maria,"  who  had  always 
been  a  second  mother  to  his  brother.  There,  amid 
the  cool  shades  of  this  lovely  old  home,  he  rested  for 
a  day  or  two  from  the  fatigues  of  travel  and  the  intense 
heat.  During  this  visit,  as  he  passed  the  room  in  which 
his  mother  had  died,  he  lingered  near  the  door  and  said 
to  one  present : 

"  Forty  years  ago,  I  stood  in  this  room  by  my  mother's 
death-bed !  It  seems  now  but  yesterday!" 

While  here  he  determined  to  go  back  to  Lexington  via 
Richmond,  and  to  run  down  thence  to  the  "  White  House  " 
to  see  his  grandson.  He  arrived  there  on  Friday,  July 
3oth.  On  Sunday  he  wrote  to  my  mother: 

"WHITE  HOUSE,  NEW  KENT,  August  i,  1869. 
"My  Dear  Mary:  I  arrived  here  on  Friday  last  and 
found  them  all  well.  Our  daughter  Tabb  has  not  been 
altogether  well,  and  shows  its  effects.  Her  baby,  I  think, 
would  also  be  improved  by  mountain  air.  I  have  there 
fore  persuaded  her  to  accompany  me  and  join  you  at  the 
Baths.  We  shall  leave  Richmond,  if  nothing  prevents, 
on  Tuesday  morning,  3d  inst.,  and  hope  to  reach  the 
Baths  that  evening  in  the  stage  from  Goshen.  I  have 
written  to  Mr.  Peyton,  requesting  him  to  prepare  a  good 
room  for  Tabb  and  her  little  family  as  near  you  as  con 
venient,  and  trust  we  may  reach  there  in  health  and  com 
fort  at  the  time  appointed.  I  hope  I  shall  find  you  well 
and  comfortable,  and  Markie  in  the  enjoyment  of  every 
good.  How  are  the  poor  little  children?  My  previous 
letters  will  have  informed  you  of  everything  important. 
I  will  supply  all  omissions  when  I  see  you.  Custis  is  here, 
much  improved.  I  have  not  yet  seen  Rob.  Farmers 
here  are  threshing  out  their  wheat,  which  occupies  them 
closely.  Fitzhugh's  is  turning  out  well,  and  he  hopes  to 


364       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

gather  a  fair  crop.  Robert  came  up  last  Wednesday 
with  his  friend  Mr.  Dallam,  and  went  down  Thursday. 
He  was  very  well.  Custis  arrived  Saturday  week.  Mr. 
Kepler  is  here  and  will  preach  at  St.  Peter's  this  morning. 
I  hope  to  attend.  Mr.  Kepler  says  his  health  is  much 
improved.  Fitzhugh  doses  him  with  cholagogue.  Good 
bye.  Affectionately  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

St.  Peter's  was  the  old  Colonial  church  a  few  miles  away, 
in  which  General  Washington  and  Mrs.  Custis  were  mar 
ried  about  one  hundred  years  prior  to  this  time.  Mr.  Kep 
ler,  the  pastor,  preached  there  twice  a  month.  He  lived  in 
Richmond,  and,  to  keep  him  free  from  fever-and-ague,  my 
brother  dosed  him  freely  with  cholagogue  whenever  he 
came  down  into  the  malarial  country.  I  came  up  from 
Romancoke  Sunday  morning,  arriving  in  time  to  be  pres 
ent  at  the  christening  of  my  nephew,  which  ceremony 
was  decided  on  rather  hurriedly  in  order  that  the  grand 
father  might  stand  as  godfather.  After  returning  from 
the  morning  service  at  St.  Peter's,  where  we  all  went,  it 
was  decided  that  the  mother  and  child  should  go  to  the 
mountains  with  my  father.  As  there  were  some  prepara 
tions  for  the  summer  to  be  made,  his  daughter  and  her 
baby  went  to  Petersburg  that  afternoon,  agreeing  to  meet 
the  General  in  Richmond  Monday  night  and  start  for  the 
Rockbridge  Baths  Tuesday  morning.  On  Monday,  he 
writes  to  a  friend,  with  whom  he  had  intended  to  stop  for 
a  day  on  his  way  back  to  Lexington : 

"  WHITE  HOUSE,  NEW  KENT  COUNTY, 

"August  i,   1869. 

".  .  .  I  had  promised  myself  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  on  my  way  to  Lexington,  of  spending  with  you  one 
short  day  to  cheer  and  refresh  me ;  but  I  shall  travel  up  in 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON         365 

a  capacity  that  I  have  not  undertaken  for  many  years — as 
escort  to  a  young  mother  and  her  infant,  and  it  will  require 
the  concentration  of  all  my  faculties  to  perform  my  duties 
even  with  tolerable  comfort  to  my  charge.  ...  I  go 
up  with  my  daughter,  I  may  say  this  time,  too,  my 
youngest  daughter*,  to  place  her  with  her  mama  at  the 
Rockbridge  Baths,  the  waters  of  which  I  hope  will  invigor 
ate  both  mother  and  child,  who  have  been  wearied  and 
weakened  by  the  long  attack  of  whooping-cough  from 
which  the  latter  has  suffered.  I  came  down  from  Rich 
mond  to  spend  Sunday  and  was  fortunate  enough  to  find 
here  my  three  sons,  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  but  one  daugh 
ter.  .  .  .  Most  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

Monday  night  was  spent  in  Richmond.  It  was  soon 
known  that  General  Lee  was  at  the  Exchange  Hotel,  and 
great  numbers  came  to  call  upon  him,  so  that  he  was  com 
pelled  to  hold  an  informal  reception  in  the  large  parlours. 
The  next  day,  with  his  "  new  daughter"  and  her  baby,  he 
started  for  the  Baths,  where  they  arrived  safely  the  same 
night.  Then  he  proceeded  to  carry  out  his  original  plan 
for  the  summer,  and  went  with  his  two  daughters  to  the 
White  Sulphur  Springs.  From  there  he  writes  to  his  wife : 

"WHITE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS, 
"  GREENBRIER  COUNTY,  West  Virginia,  August  10,  1869. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  received  this  morning  your  addenda 
to  Annie  Wickham's  letter  inclosing  Custis's.  I  also 
received  by  same  mail  a  letter  from  Mr.  Richardson, 
reiterating  his  request  to  insert  my  portrait  in  my  father's 
Memoirs,  saying  that  it  was  by  the  desire  *  of  many  mutual 
friends '  on  the  ground  of  its  *  giving  additional  interest  to 
the  work,  and  increasing  its  sale.'  That  may  or  may  not 
be  so;  at  any  rate,  I  differ  from  them.  Besides,  there  is 
no  good  portrait  accessible  to  him,  and  the  engraving  in 

*His  daughter-in-law,  Mrs.  W.  H.  F.  Lee. 


366       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  '  Lee  Family '  I  think  would  be  an  injury  to  any  book. 
His  recent  proposition  of  inserting  my  portrait  where  the 
family  history  is  given  takes  from  it  a  part  of  my  obliga 
tion,  and  if  it  were  believed  that  such  an  addition  would 
add  to  the  interest  of  the  book,  I  should  assent.  I  have 
so  told  him,  and  that  I  would  write  to  you  for  your  sug 
gestions,  and  to  ask  whether  you  could  send  him  a  por 
trait  worth  inserting.  What  do  you  think  ? 

"  There  is  to  be  a  grand  concert  here  to-night  for  the 
benefit  of  our  church  at  Lexington.  It  is  gotten  up  by 
Miss  Mary  Jones  and  other  kind  people  here,  and  the  propo 
sition  is  so  favourably  received  that  I  hope  a  handsome 
sum  will  be  realised. 

"  The  girls  are  well.  I  do  not  know  how  long  they  will 
continue  so.  They  seem  to  be  foot-free.  A  great  many 
visitors  were  turned  off  last  night — no  room  for  them ! 
A  grand  ball  in  honour  of  Mr.  Peabody  is  to  come  off 
to-morrow,  after  which  it  is  supposed  there  will  be  more 
breathing-space.  I  have  seen  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles 
Ridgely  of  '  Hampton '  since  I  wrote,  also  numerous  other 
acquaintances.  I  should  prefer  more  quiet.  How  is  my 
daughter  Tabb  ?  Mother  and  son  are  improving,  I  trust. 
I  hope  you  and  Markie  are  also  doing  well.  No  change 
in  myself  as  yet.  The  girls  would  send  love  if  I  could 
find  them.  Affectionately  yours, 

"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE.  R.  E.  LEE." 

A  few  days  later  he  writes : 

"WHITE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS,  August  14,  1869. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  received  last  night  your  letter  of  the 
1 3th — very  prompt  delivery — and  am  very  glad  to  learn 
of  the  well-doing  of  all  with  you.  I  am  particularly 
pleased  to  hear  that  our  daughter  and  grandson  are 
improving,  and  should  you  find  them  not  benefiting  I  wish 
you  would  urge  them  to  try  some  other  spiings,  for  I  have 
it  greatly  to  heart  that  they  should  receive  all  possible 
advantage  from  their  summer  trip.  I  hope  Markie  will  be 
benefited  by  the  Red  Sweet.  The  water  is  considered  a 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON          367 

great  tonic,  but  I  fear  none  will  be  warm  enough  for  her 
but  the  Hot.  If  I  cannot  get  over  to  see  her,  I  will  notify 
her  of  our  departure  from  here,  which  will  be  in  about  two 
weeks.  I  have  received  a  letter  from  Fitz.  Lee,  saying 
that  Mary  would  leave  'Richlands'  last  Tuesday,  loth 
inst.,  for  'Ravensworth,'  which  I  presume  she  did,  as  his 
letter  was  postmarked  that  day  at  Acquia  Creek,  and  was 
probably  mailed  by  him,  or  one  of  the  boys,  on  putting 
her  aboard  the  mail-boat.  You  will  be  glad  to  learn  that 
the  proceeds  of  the  concert  for  our  church  at  Lexington 
netted  $605,  which  has  been  subsequently  increased  to 
$805  by  Messrs.  Corcoran  and  Peabody  with  a  donation  of 
$100  from  each.  For  all  of  this  I  am  extremely  grateful. 

*  'As  regards  the  portrait  for  Mr.  Richardson,  you  must  do 
as  you  please.  I  shall  not  write  to  him  any  more  on  the 
subject.  Unless  the  portrait  is  good  and  pleasing,  I  think 
it  will  be  an  injury  to  the  book.  I  have  had  a  visit  since 
commencing  this  letter  from  a  Mrs.  William  Bath,  of  New 
Orleans,  who  showed  me  a  wreath,  made  in  part,  she  says, 
of  my,  your  and  Mildred's  hair,  sent  her  by  you  more  than 
two  years  ago.  She  says  she  sent  you  a  similar  one  at  the 
time,  but  of  this  I  could  tell  her  nothing,  for  I  recollect 
nothing  about  it.  She  says  her  necessities  now  compel 
her  to  put  her  wreath  up  to  raffle,  and  she  desired  to  know 
whether  I  had  any  objection  to  her  scheme,  and  whether 
I  would  head  the  list.  All  this,  as  you  may  imagine,  is 
extremely  agreeable  to  me,  but  I  had  to  decline  her  offer 
of  taking  a  chance  in  her  raffle. 

"Miss  Mary  Jones  has  gone  to  the  Sweet.  Tell  Miss 
Belle  I  wish  she  were  coming  here.  I  shall  be  glad  to  see 
Mrs.  Caskie.  Mildred  has  her  picture.  The  girls  are 
always  busy  at  something,  but  never  ready.  The  Stuarts 
have  arrived.  Mrs.  Julia  is  improving  very  perceptibly. 
Love  to  all. 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  "Markie"  referred  to  in  each  of  the  above  letters 
was  Martha  Custis  Williams,  a  great-niece  of  my  grand- 


368       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

father,  Mr.  Custis,  who  had  for  many  years  lived  at  Arling 
ton  with  her  uncle.  The  " little  children"  were  her 
motherless  nieces,  whom  she  had  brought  that  summer 
to  the  mountains  for  their  health.  General  Lee  had  been 
engaged  for  some  time  in  bringing  out  a  third  edition  of 
his  father's  "  Memoirs  of  the  War  of  '76  in  the  Southern 
States."  It  was  now  in  the  hands  of  his  publisher,  Mr. 
Richardson,  of  New  York.  To  this  edition  he  had  added 
a  sketch  of  the  famous  "  Light  Horse  Harry,"  written  by 
himself.  It  was  to  his  publisher's  proposition  of  placing 
his  portrait  in  the  "Introduction"  to  the  new  work  that 
he  at  first  objected,  and  then  agreed,  as  stated  in  the  two 
letters  just  given.  The  season  of  '69  is  still  noted  in  the 
annals  of  the  White  Sulphur  as  having  had  in  its  unusually 
large  company  so  many  noted  and  distinguished  men. 
Mr.  George  Peabody  and  Mr.  W.  W.  Corcoran,  the  two 
great  philanthropists,  were  among  them  and  helped  to 
enlarge  the  receipts  of  the  concert  for  the  benefit  of  the 
little  Episcopal  church  in  Lexington,  of  which  General 
Lee  was  a  member  and  a  vestryman. 

By  the  last  of  August  he  was  back  again  in  Lexington, 
making  arrangements  for  the  home-coming  of  his  wife  and 
her  party  from  the  Baths.  Here  is  part  of  another  letter 
written  soon  after  his  arrival  home,  some  lines  of  which 
(apparently  relating  to  the  servants)  have  been  partially 
obliterated  by  time: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  August  31,  1869. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  received  this  evening  your  note  by 
Miss  Mays.  You  had  better  come  up  whenever  agree 
able  to  your  party  ...  we  can  only  try  them  and 
make  the  best  of  them.  Alice,  when  she  gets  well,  will 
return  if  wanted.  If  Cousin  Julia*  will  return  with  you, 

*Mrs.  Richard  Stuart,  of  "Cedar  Grove." 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON          369 

you  can  see  her  here  as  well  as  there,  and  we  can  all  have 
that  pleasure.  If  she  will  not,  you  had  better  remain  with 
her  as  long  as  she  will  stay.  Mrs.  Pratt  died  to-day  at 
12 130  P.  M. 

"  I  received  a  letter  to-day  from  Edward  Childe,  saying 
that  he  and  Blanche  would  leave  Liverpool  in  the  Java  on 
September  4th,  and  after  spending  a  few  days  in  the  North, 
would  come  to  Lexington.  He  will  probably  reach  Bos 
ton  about  September  i5th,  so  that  they  may  be  expected 
here  from  the  2oth  to  the  3oth  of  September.  I  am  anxious 
for  them  to  see  our  daughter  and  grandson  and  all  our 
sons.  Give  my  best  love  to  all  with  you.  The  girls  would 
send  love,  but  a  '  yearling '  and  a  '  leader  of  the  herd '  * 
occupy  them.  Affectionately  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 

"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 

This  session  of  Washington  College  opened  with  very 
favourable  prospects.  The  number  of  students  was 
larger  than  ever  before,  every  southern,  and  some  northern 
States  being  represented.  The  new  chairs  of  instruction 
which  had  been  instituted  were  now  in  good  working 
order,  their  professors  were  comfortably  established,  and 
the  entire  machinery  of  the  institution  was  running  well 
and  smoothly.  The  president  commenced  to  see  some 
of  the  results  of  his  untiring  energy  and  steady  work.  He 
had  many  plans  which  lack  of  funds  prevented  him  from 
carrying  out.  One  of  them  was  a  School  of  Commerce 
in  which  a  student,  while  following  the  branches  which 
would  discipline  and  cultivate  the  mind,  might  also 
receive  special  instruction  and  systematic  training  in 
whatever  pertained  to  business  in  the  largest  sense  of  the 

*" Yearling"  was  a  term  that  originated  with  us  just  after  the 
war  (when  many  of  the  students  were  ex-soldiers),  to  distinguish  the 
real  boys  from  the  "  Confeds."  From  that  expression,  a  professor  came 
to  be  called  a  "leader  of  the  herd."  It  was  a  form  of  speech  that 
we  had  kept  up  amongst  ourselves. 


370       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

term.  Another  was  a  School  of  Medicine,  the  plan  for 
which,  with  full  details,  was  drawn  up  under  his  eye,  and 
kept  in  readiness  until  the  funds  of  the  institution  should 
permit  of  its  being  carried  into  effect. 

His  meeting  with  Mr.  Peabody  at  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs  attracted  that  gentleman's  attention  to  the  college 
and  to  his  work  as  its  president.  To  a  request  for  his 
photograph  to  be  placed  in  the  Peabody  Institute  among 
the  friends  of  its  founder,  he  sends  with  the  likeness  the 
following  note: 

"WASHINGTON  COLLEGE,  Virginia,  September  25,  1869. 
"F.   POOLE,   Secretary  Peabody  Institute, 

"  Peabody,  Massachusetts. 

"Dear  Sir:  In  compliance  with  your  request,  I  send  a 
photograph  of  myself,  the  last  that  has  been  taken,  and 
shall  feel  honoured  in  its  being  placed  among  the  '  friends* 
of  Mr.  Peabody,  for,  though  they  can  be  numbered  by 
millions,  yet  all  can  appreciate  the  man  who  has  illus 
trated  his  age  by  his  munificent  charities  during  his  life, 
and  by  his  wise  provisions  for  promoting  the  happiness 
of  his  fellow-creatures. 

"Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

My  father's  family  was  now  comfortably  established  in 
their  new  home,  and  had  the  usual  number  of  friends 
visiting  them  this  autumn.  In  due  time  Edward  Childe, 
Blanche,  and  "Duckie,"  their  little  dog,  arrived  and 
remained  a  week  or  two.  The  last-named  member  of 
the  party  was  of  great  interest.  He  was  very  minute, 
very  helpless,  and  received  more  attention  than  the  aver 
age  baby.  He  had  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  fear  and 
trembling,  and  did  not  apparently  enjoy  the  new  world. 
His  utter  helplessness  and  the  great  care  taken  of  him 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON          371 

by  his  mistress,  his  ill-health  and  the  unutterable  woe  of 
his  countenance  greatly  excited  my  father's  pity.  After 
he  went  away,  he  often  spoke  of  him,  and  referred  to 
him,  I  find,  in  one  of  his  letters.  During  this  trip  to 
America,  Edward  and  his  wife,  carrying  the  wretched 
"Duckie"  with  them,  paid  their  visit  to  the  "White 
House." 

This  autumn  the  "  little  carriage  "  my  father  mentioned 
having  purchased  for  my  mother  in  Baltimore  was  put 
into  use.  He  frequently  drove  out  in  it  with  my  mother, 
his  new  daughter,  and  grandson.  "  Lucy  Long, "  under 
his  guidance,  carefully  carried  them  over  the  beautiful 
hills  around  Lexington.  One  afternoon,  while  paying  a 
visit  with  his  daughter,  Tabb,  to  Colonel  William  Preston 
Johnston,  who  lived  two  miles  down  the  river,  in  pulling 
up  a  steep  ascent  to  the  front  door,  "Lucy"  fell,  choked 
into  unconsciousness  by  too  tight  a  collar.  My  father 
jumped  out,  hastily  got  off  the  harness,  and  on  perceiving 
the  cause  of  the  accident  reproached  himself  vehemently 
for  his  carelessness  and  thoughtlessness.  He  was  very 
much  distressed  at  this  accident,  petted  his  mare,  say 
ing  to  her  in  soothing  tones  that  he  was  ashamed  of  him 
self  for  having  caused  her  all  this  pain  after  she  had 
been  so  faithful  to  him. 

His  rides  on  Traveller  in  which  he  delighted  so  much 
were  not  so  frequent  now.  He  was  not  so  strong  as  he 
had  been  through  the  spring  and  summer,  and,  indeed, 
during  November  he  had  a  very  severe  attack  of  cold, 
from  which  he  did  not  recover  for  several  weeks.  How 
ever,  during  the  beautiful  days  of  October  he  was  often 
seen  out  in  the  afternoons  on  his  old  gray.  His  favourite 
route  was  the  road  leading  to  the  Rockbridge  Baths.  A 
year  previous  to  this  time,  he  would  sometimes  go  as  far 


372       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

as  the  Baths  and  return  in  an  afternoon,  a  trip  of  twenty 
miles.  A  part  of  this  road  led  through  a  dense  forest. 
One  afternoon,  as  he  told  the  story  himself,  he  met  a 
plain  old  soldier  in  the  midst  of  these  woods,  who,  recog 
nising  the  General,  reined  in  his  horse  and  said: 

"General  Lee,  I  am  powerful  glad  to  see  you,  and  I 
feel  like  cheering  you." 

The  General  replied  that  this  would  not  do,  as  they 
were  all  alone,  only  two  of  them,  and  there  would  be  no 
object  whatever  in  cheering.  But  the  old  soldier  insisted 
that  he  must,  and,  waving  his  hat  about  his  head,  cried 
out: 

"  Hurrah  for  General  Lee  ! "  and  kept  repeating  it.  As 
the  General  rode  away  he  continued  to  hear  the  cheers 
until  he  was  out  of  sight. 

On  another  afternoon,  as  Professors  White  and  Nelson, 
taking  a  horseback  ride,  approached  the  summit  of  a 
long  hill,  they  heard  behind  them  the  sound  of  a  horse's 
feet  running  rapidly.  In  a  few  moments  General  Lee 
appeared  on  Traveller  at  full  speed.  On  joining  his 
friends  he  reined  up  and  said: 

"I  thought  a  little  run  would  be  good  for  Traveller." 

He  often  gave  his  horse  a  "breather, "  as  he  called  it. 
The  animal  was  so  strong  and  powerful  that  he  chafed 
at  restraint,  and,  unless  ridden  regularly  and  hard,  had  a 
very  disagreeable,  fretful  trot.  After  a  good  gallop  up 
one  of  the  long  Rockbridge  hills  he  would  proceed  at  a 
quiet  walk. 

The  tenderness  in  my  father's  heart  for  children  I  have 
already  often  remarked  upon.  One  afternoon  two  little 
girls,  the  daughters  of  two  of  his  professors,  were  riding 
on  a  gentle  old  horse  up  and  down  one  of  the  back  streets 
of  the  town,  fearing  to  go  far  from  home.  The  General, 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON          373 

starting  out  on  his  afternoon  ride,  came  up  with  them, 
and  knowing  them  well,  said  gaily: 

"Come  with  me,  little  girls,  and  I  will  show  you  a 
beautiful  ride." 

Only  too  delighted,  they  consented  to  go.  He  took 
them  out  beyond  the  fair-grounds,  from  which  point 
there  is  one  of  the  grandest  stretches  of  mountain 
scenery  in  the  world.  One  of  the  little  maidens  had 
her  face  tied  up,  as  she  was  just  recovering  from  the 
mumps.  He  pretended  that  he  was  much  alarmed  lest 
his  horse  should  catch  them  from  her,  and  kept  saying: 

"I  hope  you  won't  give  Traveller  the  mumps!"  and 
"What  shall  I  do  if  Traveller  gets  the  mumps?" 

An  hour  later,  this  party  was  seen  returning,  the  two 
little  girls  in  sun-bonnets  on  the  one  old,  sleepy  horse, 
and  General  Lee  by  their  side  on  Traveller,  who  was 
stepping  very  proudly,  as  if  in  scorn  of  his  lowly  compan 
ion.  My  father  took  the  children  to  their  homes,  helped 
them  to  dismount,  took  a  kiss  from  each,  and,  wav 
ing  a  parting  salute,  rode  away.  It  was  such  simple 
acts  of  kindness  and  consideration  that  made  all  children 
confide  in  him  and  love  him. 

Soon  after  the  attack  of  cold  mentioned  above,  he 
writes  to  his  son  Fitzhugh,  then  at  the  "White  House" 
with  his  family: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  December  2,  1869. 
"  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  .  .  .  Your  letters  to  Custis 
told  us  of  your  well-doing.  I  want  to  see  you  all  very 
much,  and  think  the  sight  of  my  daughter  and  grandson 
would  do  me  good.  I  have  had  a  wretched  cold,  the 
effects  of  which  have  not  left  me,  but  I  am  better.  The 
doctors  still  have  me  in  hand,  but  I  fear  can  do  no  good. 
The  present  mild  weather  I  hope  will  be  beneficial, 


374       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

enabling  me  to  ride  and  be  in  the  open  air.  But  Traveller's 
trot  is  harder  to  me  than  it  used  to  be  and  fatigues 
me.  We  are  all  as  usual — the  women  of  the  family  very 
fierce  and  the  men  very  mild.  Custis  has  been  a  little 
unwell,  but  is  well  regulated  by  his  sisters.  Neither 
gaiety  nor  extravagance  prevails  amongst  us,  and  the 
town  is  quiet.  Our  community  has  been  greatly  grieved 
at  the  death  of  Mr.  Frank  Preston,  to  whom  I  was  much 
attached  and  for  whom  I  had  a  high  esteem.  Give  my 
love  to  Bertus.  Tell  him  I  hope  Mrs.  Taylor  will  retain 
one  of  her  little  daughters  for  him.  She  always  reserves 
the  youngest  of  the  flock  for  Custis,  as  he  is  not  particular 
as  to  an  early  date. 

"Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"GENERAL  WILLIAM  H.  F.  LEE." 

Frank  Preston,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  professor 
of  Greek  at  William  and  Mary  College.  He  had  been,  prior 
to  his  appointment  to  that  position,  an  assistant  pro 
fessor  at  Washington  College.  He  was  a  native  of  Lex 
ington,  a  son  of  Colonel  Thomas  L.  Preston,  who  was  for 
so  long  a  time  professor  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute. 
A  brilliant  scholar,  trained  in  the  best  German  univer 
sities,  and  a  gentleman  in  the  highest  sense  of  the  word, 
Frank  had  served  his  State  in  the  late  war,  and  had  left 
an  arm  on  the  heights  of  Winchester.  On  hearing  of 
his  death,  President  Lee  issued  the  following  announce 
ment: 

"WASHINGTON  COLLEGE,  November  23,  1869. 

"  The  death  of  Professor  Frank  Preston,  a  distinguished 
graduate,  and  late  Associate  Professor  of  Greek  in  this 
college,  has  caused  the  deepest  sorrow  in  the  hearts  of 
the  institution. 

"  Endowed  with  a  mind  of  rare  capacity,  which  had 
been  enriched  by  diligent  study  and  careful  cultivation, 


THE  NEW  HOME  IN  LEXINGTON          375 

he   stood  among  the  first  in  the  State  in  his  pursuit 
in  life. 

"We  who  so  long  and  so  intimately  possessed  his 
acquaintance,  and  so  fully  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  his 
companionship,  feel  especially  his  loss,  and  grieve  pro 
foundly  at  his  death;  and  we  heartily  sympathise  with 
his  parents  and  relations  in  their  great  affliction,  and 
truly  participate  in  the  deep  sorrow  that  has  befallen 
them. 

"With  the  view  of  testifying  the  esteem  felt  for  his 
character  and  the  respect  due  to  his  memory,  all  aca 
demic  exercises  will  be  suspended  for  the  day,  and  the 
faculty  and  students  are  requested  to  attend  in  their 
respective  bodies  his  funeral  services  at  the  Presbyterian 
church,  at  eleven  o'clock,  to  pay  the  last  sad  tribute  of 
respect  to  his  earthly  remains,  while  cherishing  in  their 
hearts  his  many  virtues. 

"R.  E.  LEE,  President." 


CHAPTER  XXI 
FAILI  NG  HEALTH 

THE  GENERAL  DECLINES  LUCRATIVE  POSITIONS    IN  NEW 

YORK  AND  ATLANTA HE  SUFFERS  FROM  AN  OBSTINATE 

COLD — LOCAL  GOSSIP — HE  IS  ADVISED  TO  GO  SOUTH 

IN     THE     SPRING     OF     1870 — DESIRES     TO     VISIT     HIS 
DAUGHTER  ANNIE'S   GRAVE 

AFTER  General  Lee  had  accepted  the  presidency  of 
Washington  College,  he  determined  to  devote  himself 
entirely  to  the  interest  and  improvement  of  that  institu 
tion.  From  this  resolution  he  never  wavered,  v  An  offer 
that  he  should  be  at  the  head  of  a  large  house  to  represent 
southern  commerce,  that  he  should  reside  in  New  York, 
and  have  placed  at  his  disposal  an  immense  sum  of 
money,  he  declined,  saying: 

"  I  am  grateful,  but  I  have  a  self-imposed  task  which 
I  must  accomplish.  I  have  led  the  young  men  of  the 
South  in  battle;  I  have  seen  many  of  them  die  on  the 
field;  I  shall  devote  my  remaining  energies  to  training 
young  men  to  do  their  duty  in  life." 

To  a  request  from  some  of  his  old  officers  that  he  should 
associate  himself  with  a  business  enterprise  in  the  South, 
as  its  president,  he  replied  with  the  following  letter: 

"LEXINGTON,    Virginia,    December    14,    1869. 
"GENERAL  J.   B.   GORDON,   President, 

"  Southern  Life  Insurance  Company, 

"Atlanta,  Georgia. 

"  My  Dear  General:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the 
^d  inst.,  and  am  duly  sensible  of  the  kind  feelings  which 


FAILING  HEALTH  377 

prompted  your  proposal.  It  would  be  a  great  pleasure 
to  me  to  be  associated  with  you,  Hampton,  B.  H.  Hill, 
and  the  other  good  men  whose  names  I  see  on  your  list 
of  directors,  but  I  feel  that  I  ought  not  to  abandon  the 
position  I  hold  at  Washington  College  at  this  time,  or  as 
long  as  I  can  be  of  service  to  it.  Thanking  you  for  your 
kind  consideration,  for  which  I  know  I  am  alone  indebted 
for  your  proposition  to  become  president  of  the  Southern 
Life  Insurance  Company,  and  with  kindest  regards  to  Mrs. 
Gordon  and  my  best  wishes  for  yourself,  I  am, 
"Very  truly  yours, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

His  correspondence  shows  that  many  like  propositions 
were  made  to  him. 

The  Christmas  of  '69,  neither  my  brother  nor  myself 
was  with  him.  Knowing  of  our  plans  in  that  respect, 
he  wrote  before  the  holidays  to  Fitzhugh,  wishing  us 
both  the  compliments  of  the  season  and  a  pleasant  time 
in  the  visits  we  were  going  to  make : 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  December  18,  1869. 
"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  must  begin  by  wishing  you  a 
pleasant  Christmas  and  many,  many  Happy  New  Years, 
and  may  each  succeeding  year  bring  to  you  and  yours 
increasing  happiness.  I  shall  think  of  you  and  my 
daughter  and  my  grandson  very  often  during  the  season 
when  families  are  generally  united,  and  though  absent 
from  you  in  person,  you  will  always  be  present  in  mind, 
and  my  poor  prayers  and  best  wishes  will  accompany 
you  all  wherever  you  are.  Bertus  will  also  be  remem 
bered,  and  I  hope  that  the  festivities  of  'Brandon*  will 
not  drive  from  his  memory  the  homely  board  at  Lexing 
ton.  I  trust  that  he  will  enjoy  himself  and  find  some 
one  to  fill  that  void  in  his  heart  as  completely  as  he  will 
the  one  in  his — system.  Tell  Tabb  that  no  one  in  Peters 
burg  wants  to  see  her  half  as  much  as  her  papa,  and  now 


378       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

that  her  little  boy  has  his  mouth  full  of  teeth,  he  would 
not  appear  so  lonesome  as  he  did  in  the  summer.  If  she 
should  find  in  the  'Burg'  a  'Duckie'  to  take  his  place, 
I  beg  that  she  will  send  him  up  to  me. 

"  I  duly  received  your  letter  previous  to  the  i2th  inst., 
and  requested  some  of  the  family  who  were  writing 
about  that  time  to  inform  you.  When  I  last  wrote,  I 
could  not  find  it  on  my  table  and  did  not  refer  to  it. 
'  The  Mim '  says  you  excel  her  in  counting,  if  you  do  not 
in  writing,  but  she  does  not  think  she  is  in  your  debt.  I 
agree  with  you  in  your  views  about  Smith's  Island,  and 
see  no  advantage  in  leasing  it,  but  wish  you  could  sell  it 
to  advantage.  I  hope  the  prospects  may  be  better  in  the 
spring.  Political  affairs  will  be  better,  I  think,  and 
people  will  be  more  sanguine  and  hopeful.  You  must  be 
on  the  alert.  I  wish  I  could  go  down  to  see  you,  but  think 
it  better  for  me  to  remain  here.  To  leave  home  now  and 
return  during  the  winter  would  be  worse  for  me.  It  is 
too  cold  for  your  mother  to  travel  now.  She  says  she 
will  go  down  in  the  spring,  but  you  know  what  an  exer 
tion  it  is  for  her  to  leave  home,  and  the  inconvenience, 
if  not  the  suffering,  is  great.  The  anticipation,  however, 
is  pleasing  to  her  and  encourages  hope,  and  I  like  her  to 
enjoy  it,  though  am  not  sanguine  that  she  will  realise  it. 
Mildred  is  probably  with  you,  and  can  tell  you  all  about 
us.  I  am  somewhat  reconciled  to  her  absence  by  the 
knowledge  of  the  benefit  that  she  will  be  to  Tabb.  Tell 
the  latter  that  she  [Mildred]  is  modest  and  backward 
in  giving  advice,  but  that  she  has  mines  of  wealth  on  that 
subject,  and  that  she  [Tabb]  must  endeavour  to  extract 
from  her  her  views  on  the  management  of  a  household, 
children,  etc.,  and  the  proper  conduct  to  be  observed 
toward  husbands  and  the  world  in  general.  I  am  sure 
my  little  son  will  receive  many  wise  admonitions  which 
he  will  take  open-mouthed.  I  have  received  a  letter 
from  your  Uncle  Carter  telling  me  of  his  pleasant  visit  to 
you  and  of  his  agreeable  impressions  of  his  nephew  and 
new  niece.  He  was  taken  very  sick  in  Richmond  and  de- 


FAILING  HEALTH  379 

layed  there  so  long  that  he  could  not  be  present  at  Win. 
Kennon's  wedding,  and  missed  the  festivities  at  his 
neighbour  Gilliam's  and  at  Norwood.  Indeed,  he  had 
not  recovered  his  strength  when  Lucy  wrote  a  few  days 
ago,  and  her  account  makes  me  very  uneasy  about  him. 
I  am  glad  Rob  has  so  agreeable  a  neighbour  as  General 
Cooke,  and  I  presume  it  is  the  North  Carolina  brigadier.* 
When  you  go  to  Petersburg,  present  my  kind  regards 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boiling,  'Miss  Melville/  and  all  friends. 
All  here  unite  with  me  in  love  to  you,  Tabb,  and  the  boy, 
in  which  Mildred  is  included. 

"Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"GENERAL   WILLIAM   H.    F.    LEE." 

In  a  note,  written  the  day  after,  acknowledging  a 
paper  sent  to  him  to  sign,  he  says: 

" .  .  .  I  wrote  to  you  yesterday,  Saturday,  in  reply 
to  your  former  letter,  and  stated  the  reasons  why  I  could 
not  visit  you.  Your  mother  has  received  Mildred's  letter 
announcing  her  arrival  in  Richmond  and  will  write  to  her 
there.  I  can  only  repeat  my  love  and  prayers  that  every 
blessing  may  attend  you  and  yours.  We  are  as  usual. 
"Truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"GENERAL  WILLIAM  H.  F.  LEE." 

The  attack  of  cold  from  which  my  father  suffered  in 
October  had  been  very  severe.  Rapid  exercise  on  horse 
back  or  on  foot  produced  pain  and  difficulty  in  breathing. 
After  he  was  considered  by  most  of  his  friends  to  have 
gotten  well  over  it,  it  was  very  evident  to  his  doctors  and 
himself  that  there  was  a  serious  trouble  about  the  heart, 
and  he  often  had  great  weariness  and  depression.  He 

*A  Virginian — son  of  General  St.  George  Cooke,  of  the  Federal 
Army,  who  commanded  a  North  Carolina  brigade  in  A.  P.  Hilfs 
corps,  A.  N,  Va. 


380       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

complained  but  little,  was  often  very  bright  and  cheerful, 
and  still  kept  up  his  old-time  fun  and  humour  in  his  con 
versation  and  letters,  but  his  letters  written  during  this 
year  to  his  immediate  family  show  that  he  was  constantly 
in  pain  and  had  begun  to  look  upon  himself  as  an  invalid. 
To  Mildred,  who  was  in  Richmond  on  a  visit  to  friends, 
he  writes  jokingly  about  the  difficulty  experienced  by 
the  family  in  finding  out  what  she  meant  in  a  letter  to 
him: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  January  8,  1870. 
"My  Precious  Life:  I  received  your  letter  of  the  4th. 
We  held  a  family  council  over  it.  It  was  passed  from 
eager  hand  to  hand  and  attracted  wondering  eyes  and 
mysterious  looks.  It  produced  few  words  but  a  deal  of 
thinking,  and  the  conclusion  arrived  at,  I  believe  unani 
mously,  was  that  there  was  a  great  fund  of  amusement 
and  information  in  it  if  it  could  be  extracted.  I  have 
therefore  determined  to  put  it  carefully  away  till  your 
return,  seize  a  leisure  day,  and  get  you  to  interpret  it. 
Your  mother's  commentary,  in  a  suppressed  soliloquy, 
was  that  you  had  succeeded  in  writing  a  wretched  hand. 
Agnes  thought  that  it  would  keep  this  cold  weather— 
her  thoughts  running  on  jellies  and  oysters  in  the  store 
room;  but  I,  indignant  at  such  aspersions  upon  your 
accomplishments,  retained  your  epistle  and  read  in  an 
elevated  tone  an  interesting  narrative  of  travels  in  sundry 
countries,  describing  gorgeous  scenery,  hairbreadth  es 
capes,  and  a  series  of  remarkable  events  by  flood  and  field, 
not  a  word  of  which  they  declared  was  in  your  letter. 
Your  return,  I  hope,  will  prove  the  correctness  of  my 
version  of  your  annals.  ...  I  have  little  to  tell. 
Gaiety  continues.  Last  night  there  was  a  cadet  hop. 
Night  before,  a  party  at  Colonel  Johnston's.  The  night 
preceding,  a  college  conversazione  at  your  mother's.  It 
was  given  in  honour  of  Miss  Maggie  Johnston's  visit  of  a 
few  days  to  us.  You  know  how  agreeable  I  am  on 


FAILING  HEALTH  381 

such   occasions,  but   on   this,    I   am  told,   I  surpassed 
myself. 

"  On  New  Year's  Day  the  usual  receptions.  Many  of 
our  friends  called.  Many  of  my  ancients  as  well  as 
juniors  were  present,  and  all  enjoyed  some  good  Norfolk 
oysters.  I  refer  you  to  Agnes  for  details.  We  are  pretty 
well.  I  think  I  am  better.  Your  mother  and  sisters  as 
usual.  Custis  busy  with  the  examination  of  the  cadets, 
the  students  preparing  for  theirs.  Cadet  Cook,  who  was 
so  dangerously  injured  by  a  fall  from  his  window  on  the 
ist,  it  is  hoped  now  will  recover.  The  Misses  Pendleton 
were  to  have  arrived  this  morning,  and  Miss  Ella  Henin- 
berger  is  on  a  visit  to  Miss  Campbell.  Miss  Lizzie  Letcher 
still  absent.  Messrs.  Anderson,  Baker,  W.  Graves, 
Moorman,  Strickler,  and  Webb  have  all  been  on  visits  to 
their  sweethearts,  and  have  left  without  them.  'Mrs. 
Smith '  is  as  usual.  '  Gus '  is  as  wild  as  ever*.  We  catch 
our  own  rats  and  mice  now,  and  are  independent  of  cats. 
All  unite  in  love  to  you. 

"Your  affectionate  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  MILDRED  LEE." 

A  month  later  he  writes  again  to  this  daughter  in  the 
same  playful  strain,  and  sends  his  remembrances  to  many 
friends  in  Richmond: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  2,  1870. 
"My  Precious  Life:  Your  letter  of  the  2gth  ultimo, 
which  has  been  four  days  on  the  road,  reached  me  this 
morning,  and  my  reply,  unless  our  mails  whip  up,  will 
not  get  to  you  before  Sunday  or  Monday.  There  is  no 
danger,  therefore,  of  our  correspondence  becoming  too 
brisk.  What  do  the  young  girls  do  whose  lovers  are  at 
Washington  College  or  the  Institute?  Their  tender 
hearts  must  always  be  in  a  lacerated  and  bleeding  con- 

*  "Mrs.  Smith"  and  "Gus"  were  the  names  of  two  of  the  pet  cats 
of  my  sister.  "Gus"  was  short  for  Gustavus  Adolphus, 


382       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

dition !  I  hope  you  are  not  now  in  that  category,  for  I 
see  no  pining  swains  among  them,  whose  thoughts  and 
wishes  are  stretching  eagerly  toward  Richmond.  I  am 
glad  you  have  had  so  pleasant  a  visit  to  the  Andersons. 
You  must  present  my  regards  to  them  all,  and  I  hope  that 
Misses  Ellen  and  Mary  will  come  to  see  you  in  the  summer. 
I  am  sure  you  will  have  an  agreeable  time  at  Brook  Hill. 
Remember  me  to  all  the  family,  and  tell  Miss  Belle  to 
spare  my  friend  Wilkins.  He  is  not  in  a  condition  to 
enjoy  the  sufferings  which  she  imposes  on  her  Richmond 
beaux.  Besides,  his  position  entitles  him  to  tender 
treatment. 

"  I  think  it  time  that  you  should  be  thinking  of  returning 
home.  I  want  to  see  you  very  much,  and  as  you  have 
been  receiving  instruction  from  the  learned  pig,  I  shall 
expect  to  see  you  much  improved.  We  are  not  reduced 
to  apply  to  such  instructors  at  Lexington.  Here  we  have 
learned  professors  to  teach  us  what  we  wish  to  know,  and 
the  Franklin  Institute  to  furnish  us  lectures  on  science 
and  literature.  You  had  better  come  back,  if  you  are  in 
search  of  information  on  any  subject.  I  am  glad  that 
Miss  'Nannie'  Wise  found  one  occasion  on  which  her 
ready  tongue  failed  her.  She  will  have  to  hold  it  in 
subjection  now.  I  should  like  to  see  Miss  Belle  under 
similar  circumstances,  provided  she  did  not  die  from 
suppressed  ideas.  What  an  awful  feeling  she  must  ex 
perience,  if  the  occasion  should  ever  come  for  her  to 
restrain  that  active  member !  Although  my  friend 
Wilkins  would  be  very  indulgent,  I  think  he  would 
want  her  to  listen  sometimes.  Miss  Pendleton  has  just 
been  over  to  give  us  some  pleasing  news.  Her  niece,  Miss 
Susan  Meade,  Philip's  daughter,  is  to  be  married  next 
month  to  a  Mr.  Brown,  of  Kentucky,  who  visited  her 
two  years  ago  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Reverend 
Charles  Page,  found  her  a  school-girl,  and  has  waited  until 
she  became  a  woman.  He  is  rich,  forty-nine,  and  has 
six  children.  There  is  a  fair  start  in  the  world  for  a  young 
woman!  I  recommend  her  example  to  you.  We  are 


FAILING  HEALTH  383 

all  as  usual,  and  'Mrs.  Smith'  is  just  the  same.      Miss 
Maggie  Johnston,  who  has  been  staying  with  us  occasion 
ally  for  a  few  days  at  a  time,  is  now  on  a  visit  to  us. 
There  is  to  be  an  anniversary  celebration  of  the  societies 
of  the  Institute  on  Friday,  and  a  students'  party  on  Mon 
day  night,  and  a  dance  at  the  College  Hotel.     To-morrow 
night  your  mother  has  an  evening  for  some  young  students. 
Gaiety  will  never  cease  in  Lexington  so  long  as  the  ladies 
are  so  attractive  and  the  men  so  agreeable.     Surprise 
parties  are  the  fashion  now.     Miss  Lucy  Campbell  has 
her  cousin,  Miss  Ella  Heninberger,  staying  with  her,  who 
assists  her  to  surprise  and  capture  too  unwary  youths. 
I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  Mrs.  Quid's  illness.     If  you  see  her, 
present  me   most  kindly  to  her;  also  to   Mrs.    George 
Randolph.     Do  beware  of  vanilla  cream.     Recollect  how 
far  you  are  from  home,  and  do  not  tamper  with  yourself. 
Our  semi-annual  examination  has  been  in  progress  for  a 
fortnight.     We  shall  conclude  on  Saturday,  which  will 
be  a  great  relief  to  me,  for,  in  addition  to  other  things,  I 
have  to  be  six  hours  daily  in  the  examination  rooms.     I 
was  sorry  that  I  could  not  attend  Mr.  Peabody's  funeral, 
but  I  did  not  feel  able  to  undertake  the  journey,  espe 
cially  at  this  season.     I  am  getting  better,  I  hope,  and 
feel  stronger  than  I  did,  but  I  cannot  walk  much  farther 
than  to  the  college,  though  when   I   get  on  my  horse  I 
can  ride  with  comfort.     Agnes  accompanies  me  very  often. 
I  must  refer  you  to  her  and  your  mother  for  all  local  news. 
Give  my  love  to  Fitzhugh,  and  Tabb,  and  Robert  when 
you  see  them,  and  for  yourself  keep  an  abundance.     I 
have  received  letters  from  Edward  and  Blanche.     They 
are  very  anxious  about  the  condition  of  political  affairs 
in  France.     Blanche  sent  you  some  receipts  for  creams, 
etc.     You  had  better  come  and  try  them. 

"  Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  MILDRED  LEE." 


The    following   letter   to   his    son,    Fitzhugh,    further 
shows  his  tender  interest  in  his  children  and  grandson : 


384       RECOLLECTIONS  6F  GENERAL  TEE 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  February  14,  1870. 

"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  ...  I  hope  that  you  are  all 
well  and  that  you  will  not  let  any  one  spoil  my  grandson. 
Your  mother  has  written  all  the  family  and  Lexington 
news.  She  gathers  much  more  than  I  do.  I  go  nowhere 
but  to  the  college,  and  when  the  weather  permits  I  ride 
in  the  mountains.  I  am  better,  I  think,  but  still  troubled. 
Mildred,  I  hope,  is  with  you.  When  she  gets  away  from 
her  papa,  she  does  not  know  what  she  wants  to  do,  tell 
her.  You  have  had  a  fine  winter  for  work,  and  later  you 
will  have  a  profitable  season.  Custis  is  well  and  very 
retired;  I  see  no  alarming  exhibition  of  attention  to  the 
ladies.  I  have  great  hopes  of  Robert.  Give  much  love 
to  my  daughter  Tabb  and  to  poor  little  'Life.'  I  wish 
I  could  see  you  all ;  it  would  do  my  pains  good.  Poor  little 
Agnes  is  not  at  all  well,  and  I  am  urging  her  to  go  away 
for  a  while.  Mary  as  usual. 

"Affectionately  your  father,          R.  E.  LEE. 

"GENERAL  W.  H.  F.  LEE." 

After  waiting  all  winter  for  the  improvement  in  his 
health,  my  father,  yielding  at  last  to  the  wishes  of  his 
family,  physician,  and  friends,  determined  to  try  the 
effect  of  a  southern  climate.  It  was  thought  it  might  do 
him  good,  at  any  rate,  to  escape  the  rigours  of  a  Lexington 
March,  and  could  do  no  harm.  In  the  following  letters 
to  his  children  he  outlines  his  plans  and  touchingly  alludes 
to  the  memory  of  his  daughter  Annie,  who  died  in  1862 
and  was  buried  at  Warrenton  Springs,  North  Carolina: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  21,  1870. 
"  My  Dear  Daughter:  The  doctors  and  others  think  I 
had  better  go  to  the  South  in  the  hope  of  relieving  the 
effects  of  the  cold,  under  which  I  have  been  labouring 
all  the  winter.  I  think  I  should  do  better  here,  and  am 
very  reluctant  to  leave  home  in  my  present  condition; 
but  they  seem  so  interested  in  my  recovery  and  so  per- 


FAILING  HEALTH  385 

suasive  in  their  uneasiness  that  I  should  appear  obstinate, 
if  not  perverse,  if  I  resisted  longer.  I  therefore  consented 
to  go,  and  will  take  Agnes  to  Savannah,  as  she  seems 
anxious  to  visit  that  city,  or,  perhaps,  she  will  take  me. 
I  wish  also  to  visit  my  dear  Annie's  grave  before  I  die. 
I  have  always  desired  to  do  so  since  the  cessation  of 
active  hostilities,  but  have  never  been  able.  I  wish  to 
see  how  calmly  she  sleeps  away  from  us  all,  with  her 
dear  hands  folded  over  her  breast  as  if  in  mute  prayer, 
while  her  pure  spirit  is  traversing  the  land  of  the  blessed. 
I  shall  diverge  from  the  main  route  of  travel  for  this 
purpose,  and  it  will  depend  somewhat  upon  my  feelings 
and  somewhat  upon  my  procuring  an  escort  for  Agnes, 
whether  I  go  further  south. 

"  I  am  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  see  you  before  I  go,  but 
if  I  return,  I  hope  to  find  you  here  well  and  happy.  You 
must  take  good  care  of  your  mother  and  do  everything 
she  wants.  You  must  not  shorten  your  trip  on  account 
of  our  departure.  Custis  will  be  with  her  every  day, 
and  Mary  is  with  her  still.  The  servants  seem  attentive. 
Good-bye,  my  dear  child.  Remember  me  to  all  friends, 
and  believe  me, 

"Your  affectionate  father,         R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  MILDRED  LEE." 


"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  22,  1870. 
"My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  Your  letter  of  the  i;th  inst.  has 
been  received.  Lest  I  should  appear  obstinate,  if  not 
perverse,  I  have  yielded  to  the  kind  importunities  of  my 
physicians  and  of  the  faculty  to  take  a  trip  toward  the 
South.  In  pursuance  of  my  resolution,  I  shall  leave 
here  Thursday  next  in  the  packet-boat,  and  hope  to 
arrive  in  Richmond  on  Friday  afternoon.  I  shall  take 
with  me,  as  my  companion,  Agnes,  who  has  been  my 
kind  and  uncomplaining  nurse,  and  if  we  could  only  get 
down  to  you  that  evening  we  would  do  so,  for  I  want  to 
see  you,  my  sweet  daughter,  and  dear  grandson,  But  as 
the  doctors  think  it  important  that  I  should  reach  a 


386       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

southern  climate  as  soon  as  practicable,  I  fear  I  shall  have 
to  leave  my  visit  to  you  till  my  return.  I  shall  go  first 
to  Warrenton  Springs,  North  Carolina,  to  visit  the  grave 
of  my  dear  Annie,  where  I  have  always  promised  myself 
to  go,  and  I  think,  if  I  am  to  accomplish  it,  I  have  no  time 
to  lose.  I  wish  to  witness  her  quiet  sleep,  with  her  dear 
hands  crossed  over  her  breast,  as  it  were  in  mute  prayer, 
undisturbed  by  her  distance  from  us,  and  to  feel  that 
her  pure  spirit  is  waiting  in  bliss  in  the  land  of  the  blessed. 
From  there,  according  to  my  feelings,  I  shall  either  go 
down  to  Norfolk  or  to  Savannah,  and  take  you  if  practi 
cable  on  my  return.  I  would  ask  you  to  come  up  to 
Richmond,  but  my  movements  are  unknown  to  myself, 
as  I  cannot  know  the  routes,  schedules,  etc.,  till  I  arrive 
there,  but  I  have  promised  not  to  linger  there  longer  than 
necessary;  so  I  must  avoid  temptation.  We  are  all  as 
usual.  Your  mother  still  talks  of  visiting  you,  and  when 
I  urge  her  to  make  preparations  for  the  journey,  she 
replies  rather  disdainfully  she  has  none  to  make;  they 
have  been  made  years  ago.  Custis  and  Mary  are  well, 
and  Mildred  writes  that  she  will  be  back  by  April  ist. 
We  are  having  beautiful  weather  now,  which  I  hope  may 
continue.  From 

"Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE." 

To  his  daughter  Mildred  he  writes  again,  giving  her 
the  minutest  details  as  to  the  routes  home.  This  is 
very  characteristic  of  him.  We  were  always  fully  in 
structed  as  to  the  best  way  to  get  to  Lexington,  and, 
indeed,  all  the  roads  of  life  were  carefully  marked  out 
for  us  by  him: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  March  23,  1870. 
"  My  Dear  Daughter:  I  wrote  to  you  the  other  day, 
telling  you  of  my  intention  of  going  South  and  of  my 
general  plan  as  far  as  formed.  This  morning  your  letter 
of  the  2ist  arrived.  ...  I  hope  you  will  get  back 
comfortably  and  safely,  and  if  you  can  fall  in  with  no 


FAILING  HEALTH  387 

escort,  you  had  better  go  as  far  as  Alexandria,  the  first 
stage  of  your  journey.  Aunt  Maria,  Cassius  Lee,  the 
Smiths,  etc. ,  would  receive  you.  If  you  wish  to  come  by 
Goshen,  you  must  take  the  train  from  Alexandria  on 
Tuesday,  Thursday,  or  Saturday,  so  as  to  reach  us  on 
any  of  those  evenings,  when  you  will  arrive  here  about 
twelve  o'clock  at  night.  By  taking  the  train  from 
Alexandria  on  the  alternate  days,  Monday,  Wednesday, 
or  Friday,  you  will  reach  Staunton  that  evening  by  four 
p.  M.,  remain  all  night,  and  come  over  by  daylight  the 
following  day  in  the  stage.  By  taking  the  train  from 
Alexandria  to  Lynchburg,  Mondays,  Wednesdays,  or 
Fridays,  you  will  reach  there  the  same  afternoon,  about 
four  P.  M.,  then  go  immediately  to  the  packet-boat,  and 
you  will  arrive  here  next  morning.  This  last  is  the 
easiest  route,  and  the  best  if  you  find  no  escort.  Tell  all 
the  conductors  and  captains  that  you  are  my  runaway 
daughter,  and  they  will  take  care  of  you.  I  leave  to 
morrow  evening  on  the  packet-boat.  I  told  you  that 
Agnes  would  accompany  me.  Tell  my  cousins  Washing 
ton,  Jane,  and  Mary  that  I  wish  I  were  going  to  see 
them.  I  should  then  anticipate  some  pleasure.  But 
the  doctors  say  I  must  turn  my  face  the  other  way.  I 
know  they  do  not  know  everything,  and  yet  I  have  often 
had  to  do  what  I  was  told,  without  benefit  to  myself,  and 
I  shall  have  to  do  it  again.  Good-bye,  my  dear  daughter. 
All  unite  in  love. 

"  Your  affectionate  father,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  MILDRED  LEE." 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE  SOUTHERN  TRIP 
LETTERS  TO  MRS.  LEE  FROM  RICHMOND  AND  SAVANNAH — 

FROM      BRANDON — AGNES      LEE's     ACCOUNT     OF     HER 

FATHER'S  GREETINGS  FROM  OLD  FRIENDS  AND  OLD 
SOLDIERS  —  WILMINGTON  AND  NORFOLK  DO  HIM 
HONOUR VISITS  TO  FITZHUGH  AND  ROBERT  IN  THEIR 

HOMES 

IT  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  little  was  written  by  my 
father  while  on  this  trip.  In  the  letters  extant  he 
scarcely  refers  to  his  reception  by  the  people  at  different 
points  visited.  His  daughter  Agnes  tells  more,  and  we 
can  imagine  how  tenderly  and  joyfully  he  was  greeted  by 
his  old  soldiers,  their  wives,  children,  and  friends.  He 
was  very  unwilling  to  be  made  a  hero  anywhere,  and  most 
reluctant  to  show  himself  to  the  crowds  assembled  at 
every  station  along  his  route,  pressing  to  catch  sight  of 
him. 

"Why  should  they  care  to  see  me?"  he  would  say, 
when  urged  to  appear  on  the  platform  of  the  train ;  "I 
am  only  a  poor  old  Confederate  !" 

This  feeling,  natural  to  him,  was  probably  intensified 
at  that  time  by  the  state  of  his  health.  On  Sunday  he 
writes  to  my  mother  of  his  trip  to  Richmond  and  of  his 
stay  there : 

"RICHMOND,  Virginia,   March  29,    1870. 
"My  Dear  Mary:     I  reached  here  Friday  afternoon, 
and  had  a  more  comfortable  journey  than  I  expected. 

388 


THE   SOUTHERN   TRIP  389 

The  night  aboard  the  packet  was  very  trying,   but   I 
survived  it,  and  the  dust  of  the  railroad  the  following 
day.     Yesterday  the  doctors,  Huston,  McCaw,  and  Cun 
ningham,   examined  me   for  two  hours,  and,  I  believe, 
contemplate    returning    to-day.      They    say    they    will 
make  up  their    opinion  and  communicate  it  to  Doctor 
Barton,  who  will  write  me  what  to  do.     In  the  meantime 
they  desire  me  to  continue  his  prescriptions.     I  think  I 
feel  better  than  when  I  left  Lexington,  certainly  stronger, 
but  am  a  little  feverish.     Whether  it  is  produced  by  the 
journey,  or  the  toddies  that  Agnes  administers,  I  do  not 
know.     I  have  not  been  able  to  see  anybody,  nor  was  I 
able  to  get  the  groceries  yesterday.     Agnes  thinks  you 
will  have  enough  to  last  till  I  get  back  here,  when  I  will 
select  them  and  send  them  up.     Should  you  want  any 
particular  article,  write  to  Messrs.  Bacon  &  Lewis  for  it. 
[  saw,  yesterday  morning,  Mr.  John  Stewart  and  Miss 
Mary,*  who  had  called  to  see  Agnes  but  found  she  was 
out.     Miss  Mary  looked  very  sweet,  and  inquired  about 
you  all.     Agnes  rode  out  there  yesterday  afternoon  and 
saw  all  the  family.     I  am  told  all  our  friends  here  are  well. 
Many  of  my  northern  friends  have  done  me  the  honour 
to  call  on  me.     Among  them  'Brick  Pomeroy.'     They 
like  to  see  all  that  is  going  on.     Agnes  has  gone  to  church 
with  Colonel  Corley.     I  was  afraid  to  go.     The  day  is 
unfavourable,  and  I  should  see  so  many  of  my  old  friends, 
to  whom  I  would  like  to  speak,  that  it  might  be  injurious 
to  me.     I  was  in  hopes  that  Fitzhugh  might  make  his 
appearance  yesterday,  when  we  should  have  learned  all 
about  those  below,  but  he  did  not.     I  hear  that  they  are 
all  well,  however.     I  expect  to  continue  our  journey  to 
morrow,  if  nothing  prevents,  though  I  have  not  yet  got 
the  information  I  desire  about  the  routes.     Still,  I  will 
get  on.     I  will  leave  to  Agnes  to  tell  about  herself.     Love 
to  all,  Truly,  R.  E.  LEE." 

The  next  letter  that  I  find  is  written  from  Savannah : 

*Miss  Mary  Stewart,  of  "Brook   Hill,"   afterward  Mrs.  Thomas 
Pmckney,  of  South  Carolina, 


390       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"SAVANNAH,  Georgia,  April  2,  1870. 
"My  Dear  Mary:  I  reached  here  yesterday  evening 
and  have  borne  the  journey  much  better  than  I  expected. 
I  think  I  am  stronger  than  when  I  left  Lexington,  but 
otherwise  can  discover  no  difference.  I  have  had  a 
tedious  journey  upon  the  whole,  and  have  more  than 
ever  regretted  that  I  undertook  it.  However,  I  have 
enjoyed  meeting  many  friends,  and  the  old  soldiers  have 
greeted  me  very  cordially.  My  visit  to  dear  Annie's 
grave  was  mournful,  yet  soothing  to  my  feelings,  and  I 
was  glad  to  have  the  opportunity  of  thanking  the  kind 
friends  for  their  care  of  her  while  living  and  their  atten 
tion  to  her  since  her  death.  I  saw  most  of  the  ladies  of 
the  committee  who  undertook  the  preparation  of  the 
monument  and  the  inclosure  of  the  cemetery,  and  was 
very  kindly  received  by  all  the  citizens  of  Warrenton,  and, 
indeed,  at  all  the  towns  through  which  we  passed.  Yester 
day,  several  gentlemen  from  Savannah  met  the  train  in 
which  we  came  from  Augusta — General  Lawton,  Mr. 
Andrew  Lowe,  Mr.  Hodgson,  etc.,  etc.  I  found  they 
had  arranged  among  themselves  about  my  sojourn,  so 
I  yielded  at  once,  and,  after  depositing  Agnes  at  General 
Lawton's,  I  came  off  to  Mr.  Lowe's,  where  I  am  now 
domiciled.  His  house  is  partially  dismantled  and  he  is 
keeping  house  alone,  so  I  have  a  very  quiet  time.  This 
morning  I  took  a  short  drive  around  the  city  with  Agnes 
and  Miss  Lawton,  and  on  returning  called  on  Mrs.  Elliot, 
who  has  her  two  widowed  daughters  living  with  her, 
Mrs.  Elliot  and  Mrs.  Habersham.  I  also  went  to  see 
Mrs.  Gordon,  Mrs.  Gilmer,  and  Mrs.  Owen,  and  then  re 
turned  to  the  Lowes',  where  I  find  he  has  invited  some 
gentlemen  to  meet  me  at  dinner — General  Joe  Johnston, 
General  Lawton,  General  Gilmer,  Colonel  Corley,  etc. 
Colonel  Corley  has  stuck  to  me  all  the  journey,  and  now 
talks  of  going  to  New  Orleans.  The  weather  to-day  is 
rather  cool  and  raw,  with  an  easterly  wind,  and  if  it  con 
tinues  I  will  go  on  to  Florida  next  week.  The  woods  are 
filled  with  flowers,  yellow  jasmine  covering  all  the  trees, 


THE   SOUTHERN   TRIP  391 

etc.,  and  fresh  vegetables  everywhere.  I  must  leave 
Agnes  to  give  you  all  details.  The  writing-desk  is  placed 
in  a  dark  corner  in  this  handsome  house,  prepared  for 
younger  eyes  than  mine,  and  I  can  hardly  see  what  I 
write.  All  friends  inquire  after  you,  Custis,  Mary,  and 
Mildred.  Give  my  love  to  all,  and  believe  me, 

"Most  truly,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 

The  Colonel  Corley  mentioned  in  the  above  letters  had 
been  on  General  Lee's  staff,  as  chief  quartermaster,  from 
the  time  he  assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia  until  the  surrender.  His  voluntary  service  as 
escort  on  this  trip,  so  delicately  offered  and  performed, 
was  highly  appreciated  by  his  old  commander.  A  letter 
from  his  daughter  to  her  mother,  written  the  next  day, 
tells  many  particulars  of  their  journey,  but  still  leaves 
much  to  be  desired: 

"SAVANNAH,  Georgia,  April  3,  1870. 
".  .  .  I  hardly  know  where  to  commence,  I  have 
so  little  time  to  write.  We  left  Richmond  Monday, 
2  P.  M.  We  reached  Warrenton  at  ten  o'clock  and  were 
taken  to  their  house  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White,  who  met  us 
at  the  depot.  The  next  morning  papa  and  I  drove 
with  Captain  White's  horses  to  the  cemetery.  Mrs. 
White  gave  me  a  quantity  of  beautiful  white  hyacinths, 
which  she  said  were  for  you,  too,  and  I  had  brought 
some  gray  moss  that  Kitty  Stiles  had  given  me.  This  I 
twined  on  the  base  of  the  monument.  The  flowers 
looked  very  pure  and  beautiful.  The  place  is  just  as 
it  is  in  Mr.  Hope's  picture  (which  I  have).  It  was  a  great 
satisfaction  to  be  there  again.  We  did  not  go  to  the 
springs,  a  mile  off.  Returning,  we  stopped  at  Mr.  Joe 

Jones's    (old    Mr.    J 's    son).     They  insisted  on  our 

taking  dinner.  He  has  eleven  children,  I  think,  and 
there  were  numberless  others  there.  They  loaded  me 


392       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

with  flowers,  the  garden  full  of  hyacinths  and  early 
spring  flowers.  Mrs.  Jones  is  a  very  nice  lady,  one 
of  those  who  were  foremost  in  erecting  the  monu 
ment.  We  then  stopped  at  the  farm  of  the  Jones's, 
who  were  at  the  springs  when  we  were  there  in  the 
autumn  of  1862,  and  Mrs.  J-^ —  knew  me  at  once, 
and  asked  affectionately  after  you.  Saw  Patty  and 
Emma — all  the  daughters  married  except  Patty  and  the 
youngest.  Mr.  J—  -  is  very  infirm — eighty-three  years 
old.  That  evening  a  number  of  persons  came  to  see  us, 
Mrs.  Alston  and  Miss  Brownlow,  two  others  of  the  com 
mittee  of  ladies.  Every  one  was  very  kind.  Indeed,  I 
wish  you  could  travel  with  papa,  to  see  the  affection  and 
feeling  shown  toward  him  everywhere.  We  spent  that 
night  in  the  sleeping-car,  very  handsome  and  comfortable, 
but  the  novelty,  I  suppose,  made  us  wakeful.  At  Raleigh 
and  another  place  the  people  crowded  to  the  depot  and 
called  '  Lee  !  Lee  ! '  and  cheered  vociferously,  but  we  were 
locked  up  and  'mum.'  Everywhere  along  the  road 
where  meals  were  provided  the  landlords  invited  us  in, 
and  when  we  would  not  get  out,  sent  coffee  and  lunches. 
Even  soldiers  on  the  train  sent  in  fruit,  and  I  think  we 
were  expected  to  die  of  eating.  At  Charlotte  and  Salis 
bury  there  were  other  crowds  and  bands.  Colonel  Corley 
joined  us  at  C.,  having  asked  to  go  to  Savannah  with  us. 
The  train  stopped  fifteen  minutes  at  Columbia.  Colonel 
Alexander  Haskell  took  charge  of  the  crowd,  which,  in 
spite  of  the  pouring  rain,  stood  there  till  we  left.  General 
E.  Porter  Alexander  was  there,  and  was  very  hearty  in  his 
inquiries  after  all  of  us.  His  little  girl  was  lifted  into 
the  car.  Namesakes  appeared  on  the  way,  of  all  sizes. 
Old  ladies  stretched  their  heads  into  the  windows  at  way- 
stations,  and  then  drew  back  and  said  '  He  is  mightily  like 
his  pictures.'  We  reached  Augusta  Wednesday  night. 
The  mayor  and  council  met  us,  having  heard  a  few 
minutes  before  that  papa  was  on  the  train.  We  were 
whirled  off  to  the  hotel,  and  papa  decided  to  spend 
Thursday  there.  They  had  a  reception  the  whole  of 


THE  SOUTHERN  TRIP  393 

the  morning.  Crowds  came.  Wounded  soldiers,  servants, 
and  working-men  even.  The  sweetest  little  children — 
namesakes — dressed  to  their  eyes,  with  bouquets  of 
japonica — or  tiny  cards  in  their  little  fat  hands — with 
their  names.  Robert  Burwell,  of  Clarke,  who  married 
Miss  Clayton  there;  Randell,  author  of  'My  Maryland'; 
General  McLaws,  Wright,  Gardner,  and  many  others. 

Saw  the  Misses   Boggs,   General   B 's  sisters.     Miss 

Rebecca  knew  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  very  well,  and  asked 
after  her.  Miss  Russell,  with  whose  father  and  sisters  we 
had  been  at  the  White  Sulphur,  helped  us  to  receive. 
She  is  very  tall  and  handsome,  and  was  superb  in  a  white 
lace  shawl,  a  moire-antique  with  a  train.  The  Branch 
brothers  rather  took  possession  of  me.  Melville,  who 
was  at  the  Institute  [Virginia  Military  Institute,  Lexing 
ton,  Virginia]  and  knew  the  Letchers  very  well,  drove  me  in 
and  around  the  town — at  the  rate  of  a  mile  a  minute. 
Another  brother  took  me  to  the  *  Skating  Rink '  at  night. 
.  a  serenade  that  night.  At  some  point  on  the 
way  here  Generals  Lawton  and  Gilmer,  Mr.  Andrew 
Lowe,  and  others,  got  on  the  cars  with  us.  Flowers  were 
given  us  at  various  places.  I  so  much  enjoyed  the 
evidences  of  spring  all  along  our  route — more  and  more 
advanced  as  we  proceeded.  The  jasmine,  though  passing 
away,  was  still  in  sufficient  abundance,  in  some  places,  to 
perfume  the  air.  The  dark  marshes  were  rich  in  tall 
magnolia  trees,  beautiful  red  buds,  and  other  red  blossoms 
I  did  not  know.  The  jasmine  and  the  trees  hanging  with 
gray  moss — perfectly  weird-looking — have  been  the  least 
luxuriant  places  in  the  interim.  Savannah  is  green  with 
live-oaks — and  filled  with  trees  and  shrubbery.  I  wish 
you  could  see  a  large  marble  table  in  the  parlour,  where 
I  am  writing,  with  a  pyramid  of  jasmine  in  the  centre 
and  four  large  plates  full  at  the  corners,  almost  covering 
the  square,  all  sent  me  Saturday.  The  Lawtons  are  as 
kind  as  possible,  wanted  papa  to  stay  here,  but  Mr. 
Andrew  Lowe  had  arranged  to  take  him  to  his  house  at 
bed-time.  So  he  lost  the  benefit  of  a  serenade  from 


394       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

two  bands,  alternating,  which  we  enjoyed — General 
Lawton  telling  the  crowd  General  Lee  had  retired  from 
fatigue.  Papa  has  borne  the  journey  and  the  crowds 
far  better  than  I  thought  he  would  and  seems  stronger. 
(Monday.)  It  seems  impossible  to  finish  this — I  inclose 
some  scraps  which  will  tell  our  story.  Crowds  of  persons 
have  been  coming  to  see  me  ever  since  I  came.  Saw 
Mrs.  General  Johnston — Nannie  Hutchenson — of  course, 
and  Reverend  and  Mrs.  Moore  yesterday.  They  left 
to-day.  .  .  .  Colonel  Corley  has  taken  Corinne  *  and 
me  on  a  beautiful  drive  this  morning  to  '  Bona venture, ' 
which  is  to  be  a  cemetery,  and  to  several  places  in  its 
vicinity.  I  never  saw  anything  more  impressive  and 
beautiful  than  the  avenues  of  live-oaks,  literally  covered 
with  long  gray  moss,  arching  over  the  roads.  Tell 
Messrs.  Owens  and  Minis  I  have  seen  their  families,  who 
are  very  kind  to  us.  General  and  Mrs.  Gilmer  asked 
especially  after  Custis.  .  .  .  We  think  of  going  to 
Florida  in  a  few  days.  Haven't  heard  from  you. 

"AGNES/' 

This  is  the  only  letter  from  his  daughter  Agnes,  written 
at  this  time,  that  can  be  found.  My  father,  in  his  letters 
to  his  family,  left  "details"  and  "particulars"  for  her  to 
describe,  and  doubtless  she  did  so.  Unfortunately,  there 
is  but  this  single  letter. 

On  April  1 7th,  he  writes  again  from  Savannah  to  my 
mother: 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the 
Wednesday  after  our  departure  and  am  glad  to  hear  that 
you  are  well  and  getting  on  so  comfortably.  The  destruc 
tion  of  the  bridge  is  really  a  loss  to  the  community,  and  I 
fear  will  inconvenience  Mildred  in  her  return.  However, 
the  spring  is  now  advancing  and  they  ought  to  be  able  to 
get  up  the  new  bridge.  I  hope  I  am  a  little  better.  I  seem 

*  Corinne  Lawton. 


THE  SOUTHERN   TRIP  395 

to  be  stronger  and  to  walk  with  less  difficulty,  but  it  may 
be  owing  to  the  better  streets  of  Savannah.  I  presume 
if  any  change  takes  place  it  will  be  gradual  and  slow. 
Please  say  to  Doctor  Barton  that  I  have  received  his 
letter  and  am  obliged  to  him  for  his  kind  advice.  I 
shall  begin  to-day  with  his  new  prescriptions  and  will 
follow  them  strictly.  To-morrow  I  expect  to  go  to 
Florida,  and  will  stop  first  at  Amelia  Island.  The 
visitors  to  that  region  are  coming  out,  saying  the  weather 
is  uncomfortably  hot.  If  I  find  it  so,  I  shall  return. 
Savannah  has  become  very  pleasant  within  the  last  few 
days,  and  I  dare  say  I  shall  do  as  well  here  as  elsewhere. 
The  spring,  however,  is  backward.  I  believe  I  told  you 
that  I  was  staying  with  Mr.  Andrew  Lowe,  who  is  very 
kind,  and  where  I  am  very  comfortable.  I  am  going  to 
be  separated  from  Agnes,  and  have  received  invitations 
from  several  of  the  inhabitants  where  we  could  be  united. 
But  it  is  awkward  to  change.  Agnes  has  been  sick,  too, 
since  her  arrival,  which  has  made  me  the  more  anxious 
to  be  with  her.  You  know  she  is  like  her  papa — always 
wanting  something.  She  is,  however,  better  to-day,  as 
I  learn,  though  I  have  not  seen  her  yet.  I  saw  her 
twice  yesterday.  She  was  better  then  and  came  down 
to  Mrs.  Lawton's  room,  so  I  hope  she  will  be  well  enough 
to  go  with  me  to  Amelia  Island.  The  Messrs.  Mackay 
got  down  from  Etowa  last  evening,  both  looking  very- 
well,  and  have  reopened  their  old  house  in  Broughton 
Street,  which  I  am  glad  of.  I  have  seen  Mrs.  Doctor 
Elliot  and  family,  *  the  Andersons,  Gordons,  etc.,  etc., 
and  all  my  former  acquaintances  and  many  new  ones. 
I  do  not  think  travelling  in  this  way  procures  me  much 
quiet  and  repose.  I  wish  I  were  back.  .  .  .  Give 
my  love  to  her  [his  daughter  Mary]  and  to  Custis,  and  tell 
the  latter  I  hope  that  he  will  be  able  to  keep  Sam  in  the 
seeds  he  may  require.  Praying  a  merciful  God  to  guard 
and  direct  you  all,  I  am, 

"Most  affectionately,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"P.  S. — I  received  a  letter  from  F — :  all  well. 

"R.E.L." 


396       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

Sam  was  the  gardener  and  man-of -all-work  at  Lexing 
ton.  My  father  took  great  interest  in  his  garden  and 
always  had  a  fine  one.  Still,  in  Savannah,  he  again 
writes  to  his  wife  acknowledging  the  letters  forwarded  to 
him  and  commenting  on  the  steps  being  taken : 

"SAVANNAH,  Georgia,  April  n,   1870. 

" My  Dear  Mary:  I  received  yesterday  your  letters 
of  the  3d  and  6th,  inclosing  Reverend  Mr.  Brantley's 
and  daughter's  and  Cassius  Lee's.  I  forwarded  the 
petition  to  the  President,  accompanying  the  latter,  to 
Cassius,  and  asked  him  to  give  it  to  Mr.  Smith.  Hearing, 
while  passing  through  Richmond,  of  the  decision  of  the 
Supreme  Court  referred  to,  I  sent  word  to  Mr.  Smith 
that  if  he  thought  the  time  and  occasion  propitious  for 
taking  steps  for  the  recovery  of  Arlington,  the  Mill,  etc., 
to  do  so,  but  to  act  quietly  and  discreetly.  I  presume 
the  petition  sent  you  for  signature  was  the  consequence. 
I  do  not  know  whether  this  is  a  propitious  time  or  not,  and 
should  rather  have  had  an  opportunity  to  consult  friends, 
but  am  unable  to  do  so.  Tell  Custis  that  I  wish  that  he 
would  act  for  me,  through  you  or  others,  for  it  is  mainly 
on  his  account  that  I  desire  the  restitution  of  the  property. 
I  see  that  a  resolution  has  been  introduced  into  Congress 
'to  perfect  the  title  of  the  Government  to  Arlington  and 
other  National  Cemeteries,'  which  I  have  been  appre 
hensive  of  stirring,  so  I  suppose  the  matter  will  come  up 
anyhow.  I  did  not  sign  the  petition, %f or  I  did  not  think 
it  necessary,  and  believed  the  more  I  was  kept  out  of 
sight  the  better.  We  must  hope  for  the  best,  speak  as 
little  and  act  as  discreetly  as  possible. 

"The  Reverend  Dr.  Brantley  was  invited  by  the 
faculty  of  the  college  to  deliver  the  baccalaureate  sermon 
next  June,  and  I  invited  him  and  his  daughter,  in  the 
event  of  his  accepting,  to  stay  with  us.  Do  you  know 
whether  he  has  accepted  ?  I  should  have  gone  to  Florida 
last  Friday,  as  proposed,  but  Agnes  was  not  well  enough. 
She  took  cold  on  the  journey  or  on  her  first  arrival,  and 


THE   SOUTHERN   TRIP  397 

has  been  quite  sick,  but  is  better  now.  I  have  not  seen 
her  this  morning,  but  if  she  is  sufficiently  recovered  we 
will  leave  here  to-morrow.  I  have  received  a  message 
saying  that  she  was  much  better.  As  regards  myself, 
my  general  health  is  pretty  good.  I  feel  stronger  than 
when  I  came.  The  warm  weather  has  also  dispelled  some 
of  the  rheumatic  pains  in  my  back,  but  I  perceive  no 
change  in  the  stricture  in  my  chest.  If  I  attempt  to 
walk  beyond  a  very  slow  gait,  the  pain  is  always  there. 
It  is  all  true  what  the  doctors  say  about  its  being  ag 
gravated  by  any  fresh  cold,  but  how  to  avoid  taking  cold 
is  the  question.  It  seems  with  me  to  be  impossible. 
Everything  and  anything  seems  to  give  me  one.  I  meet 
with  much  kindness  and  consideration,  but  fear  that 
nothing  will  relieve  my  complaint,  which  is  fixed  and  old. 
I  must  bear  it.  I  hope  that  you  will  not  give  over  your 
trip  to  the  'White  House,'  if  you  still  desire  to  make  it. 
I  shall  commence  my  return  about  the  last  of  April, 
stopping  at  some  points,  and  will  be  a  few  days  in  Rich 
mond,  and  the  'White  House'  if  able.  I  must  leave  to 
Agnes  all  details.  Give  much  love  to  Custis,  Mary,  and 
Mildred.  Tell  the  latter  I  have  received  her  letters. 
Remember  me  to  all  friends. 

"Most  sincerely  yours,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 

After  visiting  Cumberland  Island  and  going  up  the  St. 
John's  River  as  far  as  Palatka,  and  spending  the  night 
at  Colonel  Cole's  place  near  there,  they  returned  to 
Savannah.  Colonel  Cole  was  on  General  Lee's  staff 
as  chief  commissary  during  the  time  he  commanded 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  was  a  very  dear 
friend  of  us  all : 

"SAVANNAH,  Georgia,  April  18,   1870. 
"My  Dear  Mary:     I  have  received  your  letter  of  the 
1 3th,  and  am  glad  to  learn  that  you  propose  visiting  the 


398       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

'  White  House,'  as  I  feared  my  journey  might  prevent  you. 
I  am,  however,  very  anxious  on  the  subject,  as  I  appre 
hend  the  trip  will  be  irksome  and  may  produce  great 
inconvenience  and  pain.  I  hope  you  received  my  letter 
of  the  i  ith,  written  just  before  my  departure  for  Florida. 
In  case  you  did  not,  I  will  state  that  I  forwarded  your 
petition  to  Cassius  Lee  as  received,  not  thinking  my 
signature  necessary  or  advantageous.  I  will  send  the 
money  received  from  the '  University  Publishing  Company ' 
to  Carter,  for  whom  I  intend  it.*  I  returned  from 
Florida  Saturday,  i6th,  having  had  a  very  pleasant  trip 
as  far  as  Palatka  on  the  St.  John's.  We  visited  Cumber 
land  Island,  and  Agnes  decorated  my  father's  grave  with 
beautiful  fresh  flowers.  I  presume  it  is  the  last  time  I 
shall  be  able  to  pay  to  it  my  tribute  of  respect.  The 
cemetery  is  unharmed  and  the  grave  is  in  good  order, 
though  the  house  of  Dungeness  has  been  burned  and  the 
island  devastated.  Mr.  Nightingale,  the  present  pro 
prietor,  accompanied  me  from  Brunswick.  Mr.  Andrew 
Lowe  was  so  kind  as  to  go  with  us  the  whole  way,  thinking 
Agnes  and  I  were  unable  to  take  care  of  ourselves.  Agnes 
seemed  to  enjoy  the  trip  very  much,  and  has  improved  in 
health.  I  shall  leave  to  her  all  details.  We  spent  a 
night  at  Colonel  Cole's,  a  beautiful  place  near  Palatka, 
and  ate  oranges  from  the  trees.  We  passed  some  other 
beautiful  places  on  the  river,  but  could  not  stop  at  any 
but  Jacksonville,  where  we  remained  from  4  p.  M.  to 
3  A.  M.  next  morning,  rode  over  the  town,  etc.,  and  were 
hospitably  entertained  by  Colonel  Sanderson.  The 
climate  was  delightful,  the  fish  inviting  and  abundant. 
We  have  returned  to  our  old  quarters,  Agnes  to  the 
Lawtons'  and  I  to  Lowe's.  We  shall  remain  here  this 
week,  and  will  probably  spend  a  few  days  in  Charleston 
and  Norfolk,  if  we  go  that  way,  and  at  '  Brandon '  and 
'Shirley'  before  going  to  the  'White  House,'  where  we 
shall  hope  to  meet  you.  I  know  of  no  certain  place 

*This  was  the  money  that  came  to  General  Lee  from  his  new 
edition  of  his  father's  "Memoirs  of  the  War  in  the  Southern  Depart 
ment  of  the  United  States." 


THE  SOUTHERN  TRIP  399 

where  a  letter  will  catch  me  before  I  reach  Richmond, 
where  the  doctors  desire  me  to  spend  a  few  days  that  they 
may  again  examine  me.     Write  me  there  whether  Fitz- 
hugh  is  too  full  to  receive  us.     It  will  depend  upon  my 
feelings,  weather,  etc.,  whether  I  make  the  digression  by 
Norfolk.     Poor  little  Agnes  has  had,   I  fear,  but  little 
enjoyment  so  far,  and  I  wish  her  to  have  all  the  pleasure 
she  can  gather  on  the  route.     She  is  still  weak  and  seems 
to  suffer  constantly  from  the  neuralgia.     I  hope  I  am 
better,  I  know  that  I  am  stronger,  but  I  still  have  the 
pain  in  my  chest  whenever  I  walk.     I  have  felt  it  also 
occasionally    of    late    when    quiescent,    but    not    badly, 
which  is  new.     To-day  Doctors  Arnold  and  Reed,  of  this 
city,  examined  me  for  about  an  hour.     They  concur  in 
the  opinion  of  the  other  physicians,  and  think  it  pretty 
certain  that  my  trouble  arises  from  some  adhesion  of 
the  parts,  not  from  any  injury  of  the  lungs  and  heart, 
but  that  the  pericardium  may  not  be  implicated,  and  the 
adhesion  may  be  between  the  pleura  and  -        — ,  I  have 
forgotten   the    name.     Their    visit    was    at    the    urgent 
entreaty  of  friends,  which  I  could  not  well  resist,  and 
perhaps  their  opinion  is  not  fully  matured.     I  am  con 
tinuing  the  prescriptions  of  Doctors  Barton  and  Madison. 
My  rheumatic  pains,  either  from  the  effects  of  the  medicine 
or  the  climate,  or  both,  have  diminished,  but  the  pain 
along  the  breast  bone  ever  returns  on  my  making  any 
exertion.     I  am  glad  Mildred  has  returned  so  well.     I 
hope  that  she  will  continue  so.     After  perusal,  send  this 
letter  to  one  of  the  children  to  whom  you  may  be  writing, 
that  Doctors  Barton,  etc.,  may  be  informed  how  I  am 
getting  along,  as  I  have  been  unable  to  write  to  them  or 
to  any  one  at  Lexington.     I  have  so  many  letters  to 
write  in  answer  to  kind  invitations,  etc.,  and  so  many 
interruptions,    that    my    time    is    consumed.     Besides, 
writing  is  irksome  to  me.     Give  my  love  to  Fitzhugh, 
Tabb,  and  Robert  and  to  Custis,  Mary,  and  Mildred  when 
you  write.    Agnes  said  she  was  going  out  to  return  some  of 
her  numerous  visits  to-day,  and  I  presume  will  not  be  able 


400       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

to  write.  She  has  had  but  little  comfort  in  her  clothes. 
Her  silk  dress  was  spoiled  on  the  way,  and  she  returned 
it  to  Baltimore,  but  has  learned  that  they  can  do  nothing 
with  it,  so  she  will  have  to  do  without  it,  which  I  presume 
she  can  do.  I  hope  you  may  reach  the  'White  House' 
comfortably.  I  will  apprise  you  of  my  movements  from 
time  to  time.  I  hope  my  godson  will  know  you.  Tell 
him  I  have  numbers  of  his  namesakes  since  I  left  Virginia, 
of  whom  I  was  not  aware.  I  hope  they  will  come  to  good. 
"With  great  affection, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 

From  the  following  letters — all  that  I  can  find  relating 
to  this  part  of  the  journey — it  appears  that  the  travellers 
started  for  Virginia,  stopping  at  Charleston,  Wilmington, 
and  Norfolk.  Of  their  visit  to  Charleston  I  can  find  no 
record.  He  and  Agnes  stayed  at  the  beautiful  home  of 
Mr.  Bennet,  who  had  two  sons  at  the  college,  and  a 
lovely  daughter,  Mary  Bennet.  I  remember  Agnes' 
telling  me  of  the  beautiful  flowers  and  other  attentions 
lavished  upon  them. 

At  Wilmington  they  spent  a  day  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis.  His  coming  there  was  known  only  to  a  few  persons , 
as  its  announcement  was  by  a  private  telegram  from 
Savannah,  but  quite  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
secured  a  small  train  and  went  out  on  the  Southern  Road 
to  meet  him.  When  they  met  the  regular  passenger-train 
from  Savannah,  General  Lee  was  taken  from  it  to  the  pri 
vate  one  and  welcomed  by  his  many  friends.  He  seemed 
bright  and  cheerful  and  conversed  with  all.  He  spoke  of 
his  health  not  being  good,  and  on  this  account  begged 
that  there  would  be  no  public  demonstration  on  his  arrival, 
nor  during  his  stay  at  Wilmington. 

On  reaching  that  place,  he  accompanied  Mr.  George 


TfiE  SOUTHERN  TRIP  401 

Davis*  to  his  house  and  was  his  guest  during  his  sojourn 
in  the  city. 

Mrs.  Davis  was  a  Miss  Fairfax,  daughter  of  Dr.  O.  Fair 
fax,  of  Alexandria,  Virginia.  They  had  been  and  were 
very  old  and  dear  friends  and  neighbours.  The  next 
morning  my  father  walked  out  and  called  on  Bishop  Atkin 
son,  with  whom  he  had  been  well  acquainted  when  they 
both  lived  in  Baltimore,  some  twelve  years  before,  the  one 
as  rector  of  St.  Peter's  (Episcopal)  church,  the  other  as 
Captain  of  United  States  Engineers,  in  charge  of  the 
harbour  defenses  of  the  city. 

There  was  a  dinner  given  to  my  father  that  day  at  Mr. 
Davis's  home,  and  a  number  of  gentlemen  were  present. 
He  was  looking  very  well,  but  in  conversation  said  that 
he  realised  there  was  some  trouble  with  his  heart,  which 
he  was  satisfied  was  incurable. 

The  next  day,  May  ist,  he  left  for  Norfolk,  Virginia, 
where  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Selden  were  the  kind  entertainers  of 
his  daughter  and  himself.  Agnes  told  me  that  in  going 
and  returning  from  church  the  street  was  lined  with  people 
who  stood,  hats  off,  in  silent  deference.  From  Norfolk 
they  visited  " Lower"  and  " Upper  Brandon"  on  the 
James  River,  the  homes  of  the  Harrisons ;  then  "  Shirley," 
higher  up  the  river.  Then  they  proceeded  by  way  of 
Richmond  to  the  "White  House,"  my  mother  having 
arrived  there  from  Lexington  a  short  time  previously. 
The  General  wrote  from  "Brandon"  to  his  wife: 

"'BRANDON,'  May  7,  1870. 

"My  Dear  Mary:  We  have  reached  this  point  on  our 
journey.  Mrs.  Harrison  and  Miss  Belle  are  well  and  very 
kind,  and  I  have  been  up  to  see  Mr.  William  Harrison  and 
Mr.  George  and  their  families.  The  former  is  much  bet- 

*  Attorney  General  in  Mr.  Davis's  cabinet. 


402       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

ter  than  I  expected  to  find  him,  and  I  hope  will  recover  his 
health  as  the  spring  advances.  The  ladies  are  all  well, 
and  Miss  Gulie  is  very  handsome.  Agnes  and  I  went  over 
to  see  Warrenton  Carter  and  his  wife  this  morning.  They 
are  both  very  well,  and  everything  around  them  looks  com 
fortable  and  flourishing.  They  have  a  nice  home,  and,  as 
far  as  I  could  see,  everything  is  prospering.  Their  little 
boy  was  asleep,  but  we  were  invited  in  to  see  him.  He  is  a 
true  Carter.  Mrs.  Page,  the  daughter  of  General  Richard 
son,  is  here  on  a  visit,  and  Mrs.  Murdock,  wife  of  their 
former  pastor,  arrived  this  morning.  We  are  to  go  up  to 
Mr.  George  Harrison's  this  evening,  where  the  children 
are  to  have  some  tableaux,  and  where  we  are  expected  to 
spend  the  evening.  In  Norfolk  we  saw  all  our  friends,  but 
I  did  not  succeed  in  getting  out  to  Richard  Page's  as  I 
desired,  on  account  of  the  heavy  rain  on  the  appointed 
day  and  engagements  that  interfered  on  others.  Agnes 
and  Mrs.  Selden  rode  out,  however,  and  saw  all  the  family. 
Everybody  inquired  kindly  after  you,  down  to  Bryan, 
and  all  sent  their  love.  '  Brandon '  is  looking  very  beauti 
ful,  and  it  is  refreshing  to  look  at  the  river.  The  garden 
is  filled  with  flowers  and  abounds  in  roses.  The  yellow 
jasmine  is  still  in  bloom  and  perfumes  the  atmosphere.  I 
have  not  heard  from  you  or  from  Lexington  since  I  left 
Savannah.  I  hope  all  are  well.  I  am  better,  I  trust ;  am 
getting  fat  and  big,  but  am  still  rigid  and  painful  in  my 
back.  On  Tuesday  night  I  expect  to  go  to  '  Shirley,'  and 
on  Thursday,  i2th  inst.,  to  Richmond,  and  on  Friday  to 
the  '  White  House,'  unless  I  hear  that  you  are  crowded,  in 
which  case  I  will  submit  myself  to  the  doctors  for  two  or 
three  days,  as  they  desire,  and  then  go  down.  Agnes 
now  says  she  will  accompany  me  to  the  '  White  House,'  so 
that  I  shall  necessarily  pass  through  Richmond,  as  our 
baggage  renders  that  route  necessary.  Therefore,  unless 
something  unforeseen  prevents,  I  shall  be  with  you  on 
Friday  next.  All  unite  in  love.  Agnes,  I  hope,  is  better 
than  when  she  left  Lexington,  but  is  not  strong.  You 


THE  SOUTHERN  TRIP  403 

must  give  a  great  deal  of  love  to  Fitzhugh,  Tabb,  my 
grandson  Robert,  and  all  with  you. 

"Most  truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 

"P.  S.— Monday.  Your  note  of  the  6th  with  Colonel 
Allan's  letter  has  just  been  received.  I  am  very  sorry  to 
hear  of  Tabb's  sickness.  I  hope  that  she  will  be  well  by 
the  time  of  my  arrival.  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  Markie. 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 

On  the  same  date,  he  writes  to  his  daughter  Mildred  at 
Lexington : 

"'BRANDON,'  May  7,  1870. 

"  My  Dear  Daughter:  Miss  Jennie  is  putting  up  her  mail 
and  says  that  my  letter  must  go  with  it,  so  I  have  but  a 
few  minutes  to  inform  yon  that  we  have  reached  this  point 
on  our  way  home.  We  scayed  a  day  in  Wilmington  with 
the  Da  vises  after  leaving  Charleston,  and  several  with  the 
Seldens  in  Norfolk,  and  shall  on  Tuesday  next  go  up  to 
'  Shirley, '  and  then  to  the  *  White  House. '  Agnes  threatens 
to  abandon  me  at  'Shirley,'  and  I  wish  that  you  were 
there  to  take  her  place.  I  am  better,  I  hope,  certainly  am 
stronger  and  have  less  pain,  but  am  far  from  comfortable, 
and  have  little  ability  to  move  or  do  anything,  though 
am  growing  large  and  fat.  Perhaps  that  is  the  cause. 
All  here  are  well  and  send  love.  Miss  Belle  very  sweet; 
all  very  kind.  I  rode  yesterday  to  the  other  '  Brandons, ' 
and  saw  all  the  inhabitants.  Captain  Shirley  spent  the 
day  here.  Mr.  Wm.  Harrison  much  better,  and  Miss 
Gulie  very  pretty.  They  have  some  visitors.  It  is  quiet 
and  delightful  here,  the  river  beautiful.  Agnes  will  write 
when  she  finds  'time,'  which  is  a  scarce  commodity  with 
her.  I  had  intended  to  write  before  breakfast,  the  longest 
portion  of  the  day,  but  walked  out  and  forgot  it.  We 
have  little  time  after  breakfast.  Give  much  love  to  Mary 
and  Custis.  I  hope  that  you  are  all  well  and  comfortable. 


4o4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your  letter  the  morning  I  left 
Savannah,  and  I  hope  that  'Mrs.  Smith'  and  Traveller 
are  enjoying  themselves.  I  hope  to  get  back  to  Lexing 
ton  about  the  24th,  but  will  write.  After  paying  my  visit 
to  the  '  White  House '  I  will  have  to  spend  some  days  in 
Richmond  at  the  doctors'  request,  as  they  wish  to  ex 
amine  me  again  and  more  thoroughly.  I  hope  all  are 
well  at  the  college.  Remember  me  to  all  there  and  in 
Lexington. 

"With  affectionate  love,        Your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"Miss  MILDRED  LEE." 

The  "White  House,"  my  brother's  home  at  that  time, 
is  on  the  Pamunkey  River,  about  twenty -five  miles  north 
of  "Shirley."  From  my  father's  letter  it  is  evident  he 
had  thought  of  driving  over,  instead  of  going  by  boat  and 
rail  through  Richmond.  This  plan  was  abandoned  when 
his  daughter  determined  to  accompany  him,  as  a  lady's 
baggage,  even  in  those  days,  was  too  voluminous  for  pri 
vate  conveyance.  Mr.  Wm.  Harrison  lived  at  "Upper 
Brandon  "  and  Mr.  George  Harrison  at  "  Middle  Brandon." 
The  mistress  of  "  Lower  Brandon,"  the  old  historic  home, 
was  Mrs.  Isabella  Ritchie  Harrison,  widow  of  the  late 
George  Harrison.  Miss  Jennie,  referred  to  in  the  above 
letter,  was  Miss  Virginia  Ritchie,  sister  of  Mrs.  Harrison. 
She  had  succeeded  in  having  a  post-office  established  at 
"Lower  Brandon"  and  herself  made  postmistress.  This 
was  done  for  the  convenience  of  the  "  Brandons"  and  the 
immediate  neighbourhood.  The  proceeds  Miss  Jennie 
gave  to  the  "Brandon"  church. 

Of  his  visit  to  "Shirley,"  his  mother's  home  when  she 
was  a  girl,  and  where  she  was  married  to  "  Light  Horse 
Harry,"  I  can  find  no  account  written  at  the  time.  It  is  a 
few  hours  from  "Brandon"  to  "Shirley"  by  steamer  on 


THE   SOUTHERN  TRIP  405 

the  beautiful  James,  and  they  arrived  there  Tuesday, 
May  loth,  and  left  the  following  Thursday  by  steamer  for 
Richmond.  So  says  the  Home  Journal  kept  at  "  Shirley. 
All  the  country  came  to  see  him,  and  there  was  a  large 
party  to  dinner.  One  of  the  daughters  of  the  house,  then 
a  young  girl,  says: 

"  I  can  only  remember  the  great  dignity  and  kindness 
of  General  Lee's  bearing,  how  lovely  he  was  to  all  of  us 
girls,  that  he  gave  us  his  photographs  and  wrote  his  name 
on  them.  He  liked  to  have  us  tickle  his  hands,  but  when 
Cousin  Agnes  came  to  sit  by  him  that  seemed  to  be  her 
privilege.  We  regarded  him  with  the  greatest  veneration. 
We  had  heard  of  God,  but  here  was  General  Lee  ! " 

My  mother  was  now  at  the  "  White  House."  I  will 
here  introduce  portions  of  a  letter  of  the  gth  and  i3th 
of  May  from  her  to  her  daughter  in  Lexington,  telling  of 
my  father's  arrival  on  the  i2th: 

"'WHITE  HOUSE,'  May  9,  1870. 

"  Fitzhugh  took  us  on  a  delightful  drive  this  morning, 
dear  Mildred,  to  Tunstall's,  where  we  got  your  letter,  and 
Markie  got  nine,  including  yours,  so  we  were  much  gratified 
with  our  excursion.  The  road  was  fine,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  a  few  mud-holes,  and  the  woods  lovely  with  wild 
flowers  and  dogwood  blossoms  and  with  all  the  fragrance 
of  early  spring,  the  dark  holly  and  pine  intermingling  with 
the  delicate  leaves  just  brought  out  by  the  genial  season, 
daisies,  wild  violets,  and  heart's-ease.  I  have  not  seen  so 
many  wild  flowers  since  I  left  Arlington.  .  .  . 

"Thirteenth. — I  determined,  after  commencing  this,  to 
wait  and  see  your  papa,  who  arrived  last  evening  with 
Agnes.  He  looks  fatter,  but  I  do  not  like  his  complexion, 
and  he  seems  still  stiff.  I  have  not  yet  had  time  to  hear 
much  of  their  tour,  except  a  grand  dinner  given  them  at 
Mr.  Bennet's.  Your  papa  sends  his  love,  and  says  he  will 
be  in  Lexington  somewhere  about  the  24th.  .  .  . 


4o6       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

There  is  no  news.  The  country  becomes  more  lovely  each 
day.  The  locust  trees  are  in  full  bloom,  and  the  polonia, 
the  only  tree  left  of  all  that  were  planted  by  poor  Char 
lotte  and  myself.  How  all  our  labours  have  come  to 
naught.  The  General  has  just  come  in.  Robbie  is  riding 
on  his  knee,  sitting  as  grave  as  a  judge.  He  says  now 
'Markie,'  'Agnes,'  and  many  other  words,  and  calls  me 
'  Bonne  Mama.'  We  expect  Rob  this  morning.  .  .  . 
"Yours  affectionately, 

"M.  C.  LEE." 

At  this  time  my  father  was  persuaded  to  make  me  a 
visit.  He  had  been  invited  before,  when  at  different 
times  he  had  been  to  the  "White  House,"  but  something 
had  hitherto  always  prevented  his  coming ;  now  he  decided 
to  come.  My  "Romancoke"  farm  was  situated  in  King 
William  County,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Pamunkey 
River,  and  some  fifteen  miles  east  of  "White  House." 
We  arrived  there  in  the  afternoon,  having  come  down  by 
the  steamer,  which  at  that  time  ran  from  "  White  House  " 
to  Baltimore.  "Romancoke  "  had  been  always  a  depen 
dency  of  the  "White  House,"  and  was  managed  by  an 
overseer  who  was  subordinate  to  the  manager  on  the 
latter  estate.  There  was  on  it  only  a  small  house,  of  the 
size  usual  in  our  country  for  that  character  of  property. 
I  had  taken  possession  in  1866,  and  was  preparing  to  build 
a  more  comfortable  residence,  but  in  the  meantime  I 
lived  in  the  house  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  differ 
ent  overseers  for  about  seventy-five  years.  Its  accom 
modations  were  very  limited,  simple,  and  it  was  much  out 
of  repair.  Owing  to  the  settling  of  the  underpinning  in 
the  centre,  it  had  assumed  a  "  sway -backed "  outline, 
which  gave  it  the  name  of  the  " broken-back  house."  No 
repairs  had  been  attempted,  as  I  was  preparing  to  build  a 
new  home. 


THE   SOUTHERN  TRIP  407 

My  father,  always  dignified  and  self-contained,  rarely 
gave  any  evidence  of  being  astonished  or  startled.  His 
self-control  was  great  and  his  emotions  were  not  on  the 
surface,  but  when  he  entered  and  looked  around  my  bache 
lor  quarters  he  appeared  really  much  shocked.  As  I  was 
much  better  off  in  the  matter  of  housekeeping  than  I  had 
been  for  four  years,  I  flattered  myself  that  I  was  doing 
very  well.  I  can  appreciate  fully  now  what  he  must  have 
felt  at  the  time.  However,  he  soon  rallied  and  concealed 
his  dismay  by  making  kindly  fun  of  my  surroundings. 
The  next  day  at  dinner  he  felt  obliged  to  remark  on  my 
china,  knives,  and  forks,  and  suggested  that  I  might  at 
least  better  my  holdings  in  that  line.  When  he  got  back 
to  Richmond  he  sent  me  a  full  set  of  plated  forks  and 
spoons,  which  I  have  been  using  from  that  day  to  this. 
He  walked  and  drove  over  the  farm,  discussed  my  plans 
for  improvement,  and  was  much  interested  in  all  my 
work,  advising  me  about  the  site  of  my  new  house,  new 
barns,  ice-house,  etc.  He  evidently  enjoyed  his  visit,  for 
the  quiet  and  the  rest  were  very  refreshing. 

About  thirty  miles,  as  the  crow  flies,  from  my  place, 
down  York  River,  is  situated,  in  Gloucester  County, 
"  White  Marsh, "an  old  Virginia  home  which  then  belonged 
to  Dr.  Prosser  Tabb,  who  with  his  wife  and  children  was 
living  there.  Mrs.  Tabb  was  a  near  cousin  of  my  father, 
and  as  a  little  girl  had  been  a  pet  and  favourite.  His 
affection  and  regard  for  her  had  lasted  from  his  early  man 
hood.  He  had  seen  but  little  of  her  since  the  war,  and 
when  "Cousin  Rebecca,"  as  we  all  called  her,  learned  he 
was  to  be  at  the  "White  House,"  she  wrote  begging  him 
to  pay  her  a  visit.  This  he  had  agreed  to  do  if  it  was 
possible. 

While  at  the  "  White  House,"  we  had  consulted  together 


4o8       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

as  to  the  best  method  of  accomplishing  this  trip,  and  we 
determined  to  make  it  from  "Romancoke."  So  I  drove 
him  to  West  Point,  and  there  got  aboard  the  Baltimore 
steamer,  taking  my  horse  and  trap  with  us.  At  Cap- 
pahoosic,  a  wharf  on  the  York,  we  landed  and  drove  the 
nine  miles  to  "White  Marsh,"  arriving  at  "supper  time," 
as  we  still  say  in  Virginia — i.  e.,  about  7 130  P.  M. 

When  General  Lee  got  off  on  the  wharf,  so  great  was  the 
desire  of  the  passengers  and  crew  to  see  him,  that  they  all 
went  to  the  side  of  the  boat,  which  caused  her  to  list  so 
that  I  was  unable  to  get  my  horse  out  through  the  gang 
way  until  the  captain  had  ordered  every  one  to  the  other 
side.  As  the  sun  went  down,  it  became  chilly  and  I  drove 
quite  rapidly,  anxious  to  get  my  father  out  of  the  night 
air  as  soon  as  possible.  He  said  nothing  at  the  time,  nor 
did  I  know  that  he  noticed  my  unusual  speed.  But  after 
ward  he  remarked  on  it  to  several  persons,  saying: 

"I  think  Rob  drives  unnecessarily  fast." 

We  were  expected,  and  were  met  at  the  door  by  all  the 
family  and  guests.  A  hearty  welcome  was  given  us. 
After  supper  he  was  the  centre  of  the  circle  in  the  drawing- 
room,  and  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  children  of  the 
house  and  of  the  friends  and  relatives  of  the  family  who 
were  there.  He  said  little,  but  all  listened  eagerly  to  what 
he  did  say,  and  were  charmed  with  his  pleasant  smile  and 
gracious  manner.  "Cousin  Rebecca"  introduced  him  to 
her  son-in-law.  Captain  Perrin,  mentioning  that  he  had 
been  wounded  in  the  war  and  was  still  lame  from  the 
effects.  The  General  replied  that  at  any  rate  he  was  all 
right  now,  for  he  had  a  pair  of  strong  young  feet  to  wait 
upon  him,  indicating  his  young  wife. 

As  was  customary  in  this  section  of  Virginia,  the  house 
was  full  of  visitors,  and  I  shared  my  father's  room  and 


THE   SOUTHERN  TRIP  409 

bed.  Though  many  a  year  had  passed  since  we  had  been 
bedfellows,  he  told  me  that  he  remembered  well  the  time 
when,  as  a  little  fellow,  I  had  begged  for  this  privilege. 
The  next  day  he  walked  about  the  beautiful  gardens,  and 
was  .driven  over  the  plantation  and  shown  the  landscapes 
and  water  views  of  the  immediate  neighbourhood.  Mr. 
Graves,  Dr.  Tabb's  overseer,  who  had  the  honour  of  being 
his  coachman,  fully  appreciated  it,  and  was  delighted 
when  my  father  praised  his  management.  He  had  been  a 
soldier  under  the  General,  and  had  stoutly  carried  his  mus 
ket  to  Appomatox,  where  he  surrendered  it.  When  told 
of  this  by  Dr.  Tabb,  my  father  took  occasion  to  compli 
ment  him  on  his  steadfast  endurance  and  courage,  but 
Graves  simply  and  sincerely  replied, 

"  Yes,  General,  I  stuck  to  the  army,  but  if  you  had  in 
your  entire  command  a  greater  coward  than  I  was,  you 
ought  to  have  had  him  shot." 

My  father,  who  was  greatly  amused  at  his  candour, 
spoke  of  it  when  he  got  back  from  his  drive,  saying  "  that 
sort  of  a  coward  makes  a  good  soldier." 

That  the  drive  had  fatigued  him  was  quite  apparent  to 
Cousin  Rebecca,  who  begged  him  to  go  and  lie  down  to 
rest,  but  he  declined,  though,  finally,  at  her  request,  he 
consented  to  take  a  glass  of  wine.  Mrs.  Tabb  was 
anxious  to  give  a  general  reception  that  day  in  his  honour, 
so  that  all  the  old  soldiers  in  the  country  could  have  an 
opportunity  of  shaking  hands  with  him,  but  at  the 
General's  request  the  idea  was  abandoned. 

Several  persons  were  invited  to  meet  him  at  dinner, 
among  them  the  Rev.  Mr.  Phillips,  an  Englishman,  the 
rector  of  Abingdon,  an  old  Colonial  church  in  the  county. 
He  and  his  wife  were  ardent  admirers  of  General  Lee,  and 
had  often  expressed  a  great  desire  to  see  him,  so  Mrs. 


410      RECOLLECTIONS  OP  GENERAL  LEE 

Tabb  kindly  gave  them  this  opportunity.  They  were 
charmed  with  him,  and,  writing  to  their  friends  in  Eng 
land,  declared: 

"The  greatest  event  in  our  lives  has  occurred — we 
have  seen  General  Lee." 

One  of  his  young  cousins,  in  talking  with  him,  wondered 
what  fate  was  in  store  for  "us  poor  Virginians."  The 
General  replied  with  an  earnest,  softened  look: 

"  You  can  work  for  Virginia,  to  build  her  up  again, 
to  make  her  great  again.  You  can  teach  your  children 
to  love  and  cherish  her." 

I  was  struck  with  the  tenderness  of  his  manner  to  all 
these  cousins,  many  of  whom  he  had  never  seen  before, 
and  the  real  affection  and  interest  he  manifested  toward 
them.  He  seemed  pleased  and  touched  by  their  love 
and  kindness.  I  think  he  enjoyed  his  visit,  but  it  was 
plain  that  he  was  easily  fatigued. 

To  catch  our  steamer  the  next  morning,  an  early  start 
was  necessary.  Arrangements  were  made  the  night 
before,  and  all  good-byes  said,  for  we  had  to  leave  the 
house  about  five  o'clock.  That  night  he  was  very- 
restless  and  wakeful,  and  remarked  that  it  was  generally 
so  with  him  whenever  he  had  to  get  up  at  an  unusual 
hour,  as  he  was  always  uneasy  lest  he  might  be  late. 
However,  we  got  off  in  full  time — made  the  connection 
with  our  steamer,  and  returned  immediately  to  the 
"White  House."  I  left  the  steamer  at  West  Point  to 
take  my  horse  home,  after  which  I  joined  him  at  the 
former  place. 

After  a  short  stay  at  the  "White  House,"  he  started 
for  Lexington,  stopping  over  in  Richmond  for  a  few 
days.  From  there  he  writes  to  his  daughter  Mildred  in 
Lexington : 


THE  SOUTHERN  TRIP  411 

"RICHMOND,   Virginia,    May    23,    1870. 

"My  Precious  Daughter:  I  came  up  from  the  '  White 
House'  this  morning  with  Agnes,  but  she  threatens  to 
divorce  herself  from  me,  and  we  have  already  separated. 
She  is  at  Dr.  Fairfax's  and  I  am  at  Mr.  Macfarland's.  She 
promises,  however,  to  see  me  occasionally,  and  if  I  can 
restore  our  travelling  relations  even  at  costly  sacrifice  I 
shall  be  happy  to  take  her  along  with  me.  I  find  I  shall 
be  detained  here  too  long  to  take  the  Wednesday's  boat 
from  Lynchburg,  but,  if  not  prevented  by  circumstances 
now  not  foreseen,  I  shall  take  the  Friday's  boat,  so  as  to 
reach  Lexington  Saturday  morning,  28th  inst.  If  Sam 
is  well  enough,  and  it  should  be  otherwise  convenient, 
he  could  meet  me  with  Lucy  and  the  carriage  or  with 
Traveller.  If  not,  I  will  get  a  seat  up  in  the  omnibus. 
Your  mother  proposes  to  leave  in  the  boat  for  Bremo  on 
the  ist  proximo,  spend  one  week  there,  and  then  continue 
her  journey  to  Lexington.  Agnes  has  not  yet  made  up 
her  mind  whether  she  will  go  with  me,  her  mother,  or 
remain  for  a  while.  I  hope  to  find  you  well,  though  alone. 
I  must  reserve  all  accounts  till  we  meet,  which  I  am  very 
anxious  should  take  place  as  soon  as  practicable.  I  am 
improving,  I  think,  in  general  health,  but  cannot  tell 
certainly  as  to  the  difficulty  in  my  chest,  as  I  have  been 
unable  to  test  my  progress.  I  had  a  pleasant  visit  to 

F and  Robert,   and   enjoyed  rest    there,   which    I 

wanted.  Love  to  Custis  and  kind  regards  to  all  friends. 
I  hope  that  I  shall  find  all  well  and  doing  well.  All  at 
the  'White  House'  send  love.  Poor  Tabb  is  still  sick. 
Markie  Williams  is  with  your  mother.  Robert  came 
up  with  us,  but  returns  this  evening.  I  have  seen  Dr. 
Houston  this  morning,  and  I  am  to  have  a  great  medicine 
talk  to-morrow. 

"Your   devoted   father, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 

"Miss  MILDRED  LEE." 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
A   ROUND    OF   VISITS 

BALTIMORE — ALEXANDRIA — A     WAR     TALK     WITH     COUSIN 

CASSIUS     LEE "  RAVENS  WORTH  " — LETTERS     TO     DR. 

BUCKLER  DECLINING  INVITATION  TO  EUROPE — TO 
GENERAL  COOPER — TO  MRS.  LEE  FROM  THE  HOT 
SPRINGS — TIRED  OF  PUBLIC  PLACES — PREFERENCE 
FOR  COUNTRY  LIFE 

JUDGED  by  what  he  says  of  himself,  my  father's  trip 
South  did  him  no  permanent  good.  The  rest  and  change, 
the  meeting  with  many  old  friends,  the  great  love  and 
kindness  shown  him  by  all,  gave  him  much  pleasure, 
and  for  a  time  it  was  thought  he  was  better;  but  the 
main  cause  of  his  trouble  was  not  removed,  though  for  a 
while  held  in  check. 

During  the  month  of  June  he  remained  in  Lexington, 
was  present  at  the  final  examinations  of  the  college,  and 
attended  to  all  his  duties  as  usual.  On  July  ist  he  went 
to  Baltimore  in  order  to  consult  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Buckler 
about  his  health. 

While  there  he  stayed  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tagart. 

My  mother  had  returned  to  Lexington  after  her  visit 
to  "Bremo,"  together  with  my  sister  Agnes.  To  her, 
on  July  2d,  he  writes: 

"BALTIMORE,  Maryland,  July  2,   1870. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  reached  here  yesterday  evening  at 
9:15  P.  M.     Found  Mr.  Tagart  at  the  depot  waiting  for 

412 


A  ROUND   OF  VISITS  413 

me,  where  he  had  been  since  eight  o'clock,  thanks  to  his 
having  a  punctual  wife,  who  regulates  everything  for 
him,  so  that  he  had  plenty  of  time  for  reflection.  I 
believe,  however,  the  delay  was  occasioned  by  change 
of  schedule  that  day,  of  which  Mrs.  Tagart  was  not 
advised.  We  arrived  at  Alexandria  at  5:00  p.  M.,  and 
were  taken  to  Washington  and  kept  in  the  cars  till  7  45, 
when  we  were  sent  on.  It  was  the  hottest  day  I  ever 
experienced,  or  I  was  in  the  hottest  position  I  ever 
occupied,  both  on  board  the  packet  and  in  the  railroad 
cars,  or  I  was  less  able  to  stand  it,  for  I  never  recollect 
having  suffered  so  much.  Dr.  Buckler  came  in  to  see 
me  this  morning,  and  examined  me,  stripped,  for  two 
hours.  He  says  he  finds  my  lungs  working  well,  the 
action  of  the  heart  a  little  too  much  diffused,  but  nothing 
to  injure.  He  is  inclined  to  think  that  my  whole  diffi 
culty  arises  from  rheumatic  excitement,  both  the  first 
attack  in  front  of  Fredericksburg  and  the  second  last 
winter.  Says  I  appear  to  have  a  rheumatic  constitution, 
must  guard  against  cold,  keep  out  in  the  air,  exercise, 
etc.,  as  the  other  physicians  prescribe.  He  will  see  me 
again.  In  the  meantime,  he  has  told  me  to  try  lemon- 
juice  and  watch  the  effect.  I  will  endeavour  to  get  out  to 
Washington  Peter's  on  the  4th  and  to  Goodwood  as  soon 
as  Dr.  B—  -  is  satisfied.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tagart  are  very 
well  and  send  regards.  The  messenger  is  waiting  to 
take  this  to  the  office.  It  is  raining,  and  I  have  not  been 
out  nor  seen  any  one  out  of  the  house.  I  hope  all  are 
well  with  you,  and  regret  that  I  was  obliged  to  come 
away.  Tell  the  girls  I  was  so  overcome  that  I  could  not 
get  up  this  morning  till  8:00  A.  M.  Give  much  love  to 
everybody,  and  believe  me  most  truly, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

The  advantages  of  early  rising  my  father  ever  held  out 
to  his  daughters,  so  that  he  knew  they  would  enjoy  hearing 
of  his  being  late  in  getting  down  in  the  morning.  During 


4i4       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

this  visit  to  Baltimore  he  took  advantage  of  his  prox 
imity  to  many  old  friends  to  visit  them. 

His  next  letter  is  from  Alexandria  to  my  mother: 

"ALEXANDRIA,  Virginia,  July  15,  1870. 

11  My  Dear  Mary:  I  arrived  here  last  evening  from 
Goodwood,  and  was  glad  to  hear  from  Burke  this  morning 
that  our  Aunt  Maria  was  as  well  as  usual.  I  wish  to  get 
out  to  Cassius  Lee's  this  afternoon,  and  will  spend  to 
morrow  on  the  Hill  in  visiting  General  Cooper,  Mr.  Mason, 
the  Bishop,  etc.*  Next  week  I  shall  go  to  Ravensworth 
and  from  there  think  I  shall  proceed  to  Lexington.  It  is 
so  hot  that  I  shall  be  obliged  to  forego  my  visit  to  Nannie 
and  the  *  White  House.'  It  is  intensely  hot  here  and  I  am 
unable  to  bear  the  heat  now.  I  took  cold  yesterday  in 
the  cars  or  elsewhere  and  am  full  of  pains  this  morning, 
and  was  unable  to  sleep  last  night. 

"I  have  seen  Mr.  Smith  t  this  morning  and  had  with 
him  a  long  business  talk,  and  will  see  him  again  after 
seeing  Cassius.  The  prospect  is  not  promising.  I  got 
your  letter  at  Charles's.  Thank  Agnes  for  hers.  All  were 
well  there  and  on  West  River,  and  sent  you  all  messages 
of  love.  I  will  give  all  particulars  when  we  meet.  I  am 
at  the  Mansion  House,  where  it  is  piping  hot.  I  had  felt 
better  until  I  caught  fresh  cold,  but  no  one  can  avoid  it 
in  such  weather.  Love  to  all.  I  cannot  fix  yet  the  day 
of  my  return,  but  it  will  be  the  last  week  in  July. 

*"Aunt    M "    was    Mrs.    Fitzhugh    of    "Ravensworth,"    and 

"  Burke,"  her  coloured  servant;  Cassius  Lee, my  father's  cousin  ;  Gen 
eral  S.  S.  Cooper,  Adj.  General  of  the  C.  S.  armies  ;  Mr.  J.  M.  Mason, 
Senator  in  U.  S.  and  C.  S.  Congress  ;  the  Bishop,  Bishop  Johns  of 
Virginia,  all  at  that  time  living  on  the  "Hill" — or  Seminary  Hill — 
about  two  miles  from  Alexandria. 

t  Mr.  Francis  L.  Smith  was  my  father's  lawyer.  The  matter 
referred  to  which  caused  the  remark,  "The  prospect  is  not  promising," 
was  the  chance  of  getting  back  the  estate  of  Arlington  from  the  U.  S. 
Government.  Mr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Cassius  Lee  were  my  father's 
advisers  in  this  matter.  ' '  Nannie  "  was  the  widow  of  Captain  S.  S.  Lee, 
my  father's  broths 


A     ROUND   OF  VISITS  415 

"  I  hope  Custis  has  got  off,  though  I  shall  not  be  able 
to  see  him. 

"Most  truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 

Mr.  Cassius  Lee  was  my  father's  first  cousin.  They 
had  been  children  together,  schoolmates  in  boyhood, 
and  lifelong  friends  and  neighbours.  He  was  my  father's 
trusted  adviser  in  all  business  matters,  and  in  him  he 
had  the  greatest  confidence.  Mr.  Cazenove  Lee,  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  his  son,  has  kindly  furnished  me  with 
some  of  his  recollections  of  this  visit,  which  I  give  in  his 
own  words : 

"It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  an  accurate  and 
full  account  of  this  visit  was  not  preserved,  for  the  con 
versations  during  those  two  or  three  days  were  most  in 
teresting  and  would  have  filled  a  volume.  It  was  the 
review  of  a  lifetime  by  two  old  men.  It  is  believed  that 
General  Lee  never  talked  after  the  war  with  as  little 
reserve  as  on  this  occasion.  Only  my  father  and  two  of 
his  boys  were  present.  I  can  remember  his  telling  my 
father  of  meeting  Mr.  Leary,  their  old  teacher  at  the 
Alexandria  Academy,  during  his  late  visit  to  the  South, 
which  recalled  many  incidents  of  their  school  life.  They 
talked  of  the  war,  and  he  told  of  the  delay  of  Jackson  in 
getting  on  McClellan's  flank,  causing  the  fight  at  Mechan- 
icsville,  which  fight  he  said  was  unexpected,  but  was 
necessary  to  prevent  McClellan  from  entering  Richmond, 
from  the  front  of  which  most  of  the  troops  had  been 
moved.  He  thought  that  if  Jackson  had  been  at  Gettys 
burg  the  would  have  gained  a  victory,  'for' said  he, 
'Jackson  would  have  held  the  heights  which  Ewell  took 
on  the  first  day.'  He  said  that  Ewell  was  a  fine  officer, 
but  would  never  take  the  responsibility  of  exceeding  his 
orders,  and  having  been  ordered  to  Gettysburg,  he  would 


416       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

not  go  farther  and  hold  the  heights  beyond  the  town.  I 
asked  him  which  of  the  Federal  generals  he  considered 
the  greatest,  and  he  answered  most  emphatically  *  McClel- 
lan  by  all  odds.'  He  was  asked  why  he  did  not  come 
to  Washington  after  second  Manassas. 

'" Because,'  he  replied,  'my  men  had  nothing  to  eat,' 
and  pointing  to  Fort  Wade,  in  the  rear  of  our  home,  he 
said, '  I  could  not  tell  my  men  to  take  that  fort  when  they 
had  had  nothing  to  eat  for  three  days.  I  went  to  Mary 
land  to  feed  my  army.' 

"This  led  to  a  statement  of  the  mismanagement  of  the 
Confederate  Commissary  Department,  of  which  he  gave 
numerous  instances,  and  mentioned  his  embarrassments  in 
consequence.  He  was  also  very  severe  in  his  criticism 
of  the  newspapers,  and  said  that  patriotism  did  not  seem 
to  influence  them  in  the  least,  that  movements  of  the 
army  were  published  which  frustrated  their  plans,  and, 
as  an  instance,  he  told  of  Longstreet's  being  sent  to  the 
Western  Army  and  the  efforts  that  were  made  to  keep 
the  movement  secret,  but  to  no  purpose,  the  papers 
having  heralded  it  at  once  to  friend  and  foe  alike.  I 
also  remember  his  saying  that  he  advocated  putting  the 
negroes  in  the  army,  and  the  arguments  he  advanced  in 
favour  of  it.  My  father  remarked  at  table  one  day  that 
he  could  not  have  starved  in  the  Confederate  service  if 
he  could  have  gotten  bread  and  milk. 

"  'No,'  replied  the  General,  'but  frequently  I  could  not 
get  even  that.' 

"  His  love  of  children  was  most  marked,  and  he  never 
failed  to  show  them  patient  consideration.  On  the 
occasion  of  this  visit,  his  answers  to  all  our  boyish  ques 
tions  were  given  with  as  much  detail  and  as  readily  as  if 
we  had  been  the  most  important  men  in  the  community. 
Several  years  before  the  war  I  remember  that  my  sister, 
brother,  and  myself,  all  young  children,  drove  over  to 
Arlington  Mills,  and  that  while  going  there  Colonel  Lee 
rode  up  on  a  beautiful  black  horse.  He  impressed  my 
childish  fancy  then  as  the  handsomest  and  finest  horse- 


A  ROUND   OF  VISITS  417 

man  I  had  ever  seen — the  beau-ideal  of  a  soldier.  Upon 
seeing  us  he  at  once  stopped,  spoke  to  each  of  us,  and 
took  my  sister,  then  about  ten  years  of  age,  upon  his 
horse  before  him,  and  rode  with  us  for  two  miles,  telling 
her,  I  remember,  of  his  boy  Robby,  who  had  a  pony, 
and  who  should  be  her  sweetheart.  Often  have  I  seen 
him  on  the  road  or  street  or  elsewhere,  and  though  I  was 
'only  a  boy,'  he  always  stopped  and  had  something 
pleasant  to  say  to  me." 

The  Mr.  Leary  mentioned  here  was  my  father's  teacher 
when  a  boy  in  Alexandria.  His  regard  and  esteem  for 
him  was  very  high,  as  is  shown  in  the  following  letter: 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  December  15,  1866. 
"MR.  WM.  B.  LEARY. 

"  My  Dear  Sir:  Your  visit  has  recalled  to  me  years  long 
since  passed,  when  I  was  under  your  tuition  and  received 
daily  your  instruction.  In  parting  from  you,  I  beg  to 
express  the  gratitude  I  have  felt  all  my  life  for  the 
affectionate  fidelity  which  characterised  your  teaching 
and  conduct  toward  me.  Should  any  of  my  friends, 
wherever  your  lot  may  be  cast,  desire  to  know  your 
qualifications  as  a  teacher,  I  hope  you  will  refer  them 
to  me ;  for  that  is  a  subject  on  which  I  can  speak  know 
ingly  and  from  experience.  Wishing  you  health,  hap 
piness,  and  prosperity,  I  am,  affectionately, 
"Your  friend, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

His  next  letter  is  from  "  Ravensworth, "  where  he  went 
after  his  visit  to  the  "Seminary  Hill": 

"RAVENSWORTH,  Virginia,  July  20,  1870. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  arrived  here  yesterday  from  Alex 
andria  and  found  Aunt  Maria  well  in  general  health,  but 
less  free  to  walk  than  when  I  last  saw  her.     She  is  cheerful 
and  quiet,  but  seems  indisposed  to  try  any  of  the  healing 


418       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

baths,  or,  indeed,  any  of  the  remedies  resorted  to  in  cases 
of  similar  character,  and  seems  to  think  nothing  will  be 
of  avail.  I  hope  in  time  that  she  will  be  relieved.  Her 
niece,  Mrs.  Goldsborough,  the  daughter  of  her  sister 
Wilhelmina,  is  with  her.  She  seems  to  be  a  nice  little 
lady — has  a  big  boy  of  eight  months,  and  is  expecting 
her  husband  to-morrow,  so  nothing  need  be  said  more 
on  her  account.  Mr.  Dickens  was  over  last  evening, 
and  reports  all  well  with  him.  All  the  family  are  to  be 
over  this  evening,  so  I  cannot  say  more  of  them.  Ravens- 
worth  is  looking  very  well — I  mean  the  house  and  grounds, 
but  little  of  the  farm  seems  to  be  cultivated,  and  is  grow 
ing  up  with  pines.  I  received  your  letter  directed  to 
Alexandria  after  my  return  from  my  visit  to  Cassius,  also 
Colonel  Williamson's.  Resolutions  will  not  build  the 
church.  It  will  require  money.  Mr.  Smith  did  not  give 
so  favourable  an  account  of  Mr.  Price  as  did  Mr.  Green. 

I  did  not  see  Mr.  P ,  for  it  would  have  been  of  no 

avail  without  having  the  plans,  etc.,  and  I  cannot  wait 
here  to  receive  them.  I  shall  have  to  send  them,  or  to 
invite  him  to  Lexington  after  my  return.  I  propose  to 
leave  here,  if  nothing  prevents,  on  Monday,  2  5th  inst. 
If  I  go  by  Goshen,  I  hope  to  reach  Lexington  that  night, 
or  Tuesday  morning  after  breakfast.  I  have  heard  a 
rumour  that  the  water  has  been  withdrawn  from  the 
canal  above  Lynchburg  for  the  purpose  of  repairs.  If 
that  is  so,  I  shall  have  to  go  by  Goshen.  My  cold  con 
tinues,  but  is  better.  The  weather  is  very  hot  and  to 
me  is  almost  insupportable.  At  6  :oo  P.  M.  yesterday,  the 
thermometer  in  Ravens  worth  hall  marked  86°.  This 
morning,  when  I  first  went  out,  it  stood  at  84°.  Thank 
Agnes  for  her  letter.  I  cannot  respond  at  this  time. 
The  letter  you  forwarded  from  Mrs.  Podestad  describes 
the  sickness  her  children  have  passed  through.  She  is 
now  with  them  at  Capon,  and  Miss  Emily  has  gone  to 

visit    Mrs.  Barksdale   in   Greenbrier.      Mrs.  P says 

she  will  be  ready  to  visit  you  any  time  after  the  middle 
of  August  that  you  will  notify  her.  I  am  glad  all  are  well 


A  ROUND  OF  VISITS  419 

with  you,  and  hope  the  garden  will  give  you  some  vege 
tables.  I  am  anxious  to  get  back  and  see  you  all.  Give 
much  love  to  the  girls,  including  the  Misses  Selden.  Tell 
them  they  must  not  leave  till  I  return,  that  I  am  hurrying 
back  as  fast  as  rheumatism  will  let  me.  I  have  aban 
doned  my  visit  to  Nannie  and  the  boys  on  the  Pamunkey. 
Tell  them  it  is  too  hot  and  that  I  am  too  painful.  Aunt 

M sends  love  to  all.     Remember  me  to  all  friends. 

I  must  leave  details  till  I  return. 

"Most  truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  R.  E.  LEE." 

The  building  of  the  church  here  referred  to  was  the 
Episcopal  church  in  Lexington,  which  it  was  proposed 
to  take  down  and  replace  with  a  larger  and  better  build 
ing.  My  father  was  a  vestryman,  and  also  a  member  of 
the  building  committee. 

Dr.  Buckler,  whom  my  father  had  consulted  in  July,  was 
at  this  time  on  a  visit  to  Baltimore,  having  lived  abroad 
with  his  family  since  1866.  When  about  to  return  to 
Paris  he  wrote  and  asked  my  father  to  accompany  him. 

This  invitation  he  was  obliged  to  decline. 

"LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  August  5,  1870. 
"My  Dear  Doctor:  I  have  just  received  your  letter  of 
the  4th  inviting  me  to  accompany  you  across  the  Atlantic, 
and  I  return  you  my  cordial  thanks  for  your  kind  solici 
tation  for  my  health  and  comfort.  There  is  no  one 
whom  I  would  prefer  to  have  as  a  companion  on  the  voy 
age,  nor  is  there  one,  I  am  sure,  who  would  take  better 
care  of  me.  But  I  cannot  impose  myself  upon  you. 
I  have  given  you  sufficient  trouble  already,  and  you  must 
cure  me  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  If  you  are  the  man 
I  take  you  for,  you  will  do  so.  You  must  present  my 
warmest  thanks  to  your  wife  for  her  remembrance  of  me 
and  her  kind  offer  of  the  hospitalities  of  her  house. 


420       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

Should  I  ever  be  able  to  visit  Europe  I  shall  certainly 
accept  them,  but  I  hope  she  will  soon  return  to  this 
country  and  that  you  will  bring  her  up  to  the  mountains 
to  us.  We  are  all  peaceable  here  now  and  she  will  find 
that  we  are  not  as  bad  as  we  have  been  reported  to  be, 
and  every  one  will  extend  to  her  a  hearty  welcome,  whereas 
Europe  is  now  convulsed  with  the  horrors  of  war  or  the 
agony  of  its  expectancy,  and  I  fear  for  a  season  is  destined 
to  feel  the  greatest  calamity  that  can  befall  a  people.  I 
am  happy  to  inform  you  that  my  health  is  better.  I  am 
pursuing  your  directions  and  hope  that  I  am  deriving 
benefit  from  them.  I  have  made  my  arrangements  to 
visit  the  Hot  Springs,  Virginia,  on  Monday  next,  as  you 
recommended,  and  trust  I  may  find  relief  from  them. 
My  rheumatic  pains  continue,  but  have  diminished,  and 
that  in  my  shoulder,  I  think,  has  lessened  under  the 
application  of  the  blister.  I  shall  endeavour  to  be  well 
by  the  fall.  The  letter  you  inclosed  to  me  was  from  Mrs. 
Smith  on  the  Hudson — and  not  from  Mr.  Henry  White, 
as  you  supposed.  Good-bye,  my  dear  doctor;  may  you 
have  a  prosperous  voyage  and  find  your  family  all  well 
on  your  arrival,  and  may  your  own  health  be  entirely 
restored.  My  family  unite  with  me  in  every  kind  wish, 
and  I  am  most  truly, 

"Your  friend, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"DR.  THOMAS  H.  BUCKLER." 

This  letter  to  General  Cooper  (Adjutant  General  of  the 
Confederate  States  Army),  written  at  this  time,  explains 
itself,  and  is  one  of  many  witnesses  of  my  father's  delicate 
consideration  for  old  soldiers  in  distress : 

"LEXINGTON,   Virginia,   August   4,    1870. 
"GENERAL  S.  COOPER, 

"Alexandria,  Virginia. 

"My  Dear  General:  Impressed,  with  all  the  people  of 
the  South,  with  your  merits  and  services,  I  have  with 


A  ROUND   OF  VISITS  421 

them  admired  your  manly  efforts  to  support  your  family, 
and  have  regretted  that  more  remunerative  occupation, 
better  suited  to  your  capacities  and  former  habits,  had 
not  presented  itself.  This  has  been  a  subject  of  conver 
sation  with  some  of  us  here,  and  when  in  Savannah  last 
spring  I  presented  it  to  General  Lawton,  Colonel  Cole,  and 
others,  and  suggested  that  efforts  be  made  to  raise  a  sum 
for  the  relief  of  any  pressing  necessity.  The  idea  was 
cordially  adopted,  and  it  was  hoped  that  an  amount 
would  be  contributed  that  would  enable  you  to  receive 
some  relaxation.  I  have  received  a  letter  from  General 
Lawton  regretting  the  smallness  of  the  sum  collected, 
$300,  and  explaining  the  delay  that  had  occurred,  the 
general  poverty  of  the  people,  the  many  calls  upon  them, 
and  the  disposition  to  procrastinate  when  facts  are  not 
known  to  them  personally.  To  this  sum  I  have  only  been 
able  to  add  $100,  but  I  hope  it  may  enable  you  to  supply 
some  immediate  want  and  prevent  you  from  taxing  your 
strength  too  much.  You  must  also  pardon  me  for  my 
moving  in  this  matter,  and  for  the  foregoing  explanation, 
which  I  feel  obliged  to  make  that  you  might  understand 
the  subject. 

"With  my  best  wishes  for  your  health  and  happiness 
and  for  the  useful  prolongation  of  your  honourable  life, 
I  am,  with  true  regard, 

"Your  friend  and  servant. 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

He  remained  at  Lexington  only  for  a  short  time,  as  it 
was  decided  that  he  should  go  to  the  Hot  Springs, 
Virginia,  where  he  could  try  their  famous  waters  for  his 
rheumatism.  On  the  day  of  his  arrival  he  writes  to  my 
mother: 

"HOT  SPRINGS,  Bath  County,  Virginia, 

"August  10,  1870. 

"My  Dear  Mary:  We  reached  here  this  morning  about 
9:30  A.  M.,  Captain  White  and  I,  after  as  pleasant  a  jour- 


422       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

ney  as  we  could  have  expected.  After  taking  the  cars 
at  Goshen,  the  old  route  by  Milboro'  rose  up  so  strong 
before  me  that  we  determined  to  adhere  to  it.  Reached 
the  Bath  Alum  about  4:00  p.  M.,  where  we  passed  the 
night  and  were  in  luck  in  finding  several  schools  or  parts 
of  them  rusticating  on  alum-water.  Mrs.  Heath  was  in 
charge  of  the  detachment  from  Dr.  Phillips's.*  They 
presented  a  gay  and  happy  appearance.  This  morning 
we  breakfasted  at  the  Warm  and  had  the  attention  of 
Richard.  There  is  a  small  party  there,  Admiral  Louis 
Goldsborough  with  his  wife  and  Miss  West  amongst 
them.  Here  there  is  quite  a  company.  Mrs.  Lemmon 
from  Baltimore,  her  daughter  Mrs.  Dobbin,  Mrs.  General 
Walker,  wife  of  the  ex-Secretary  of  War  of  the  Confed 
eracy,  Mrs.  and  Miss  Sivent,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Cabell  are  here,  and  the  Tardy s  and  Mrs. 
Mac  regret  that  you  are  not  with  me.  .  .  I  saw  Mrs. 
Maize  at  the  Warm,  and  her  sister  from  Kentucky,  Mrs. 
Tate.  Rev.  Mr.  Mason  and  the  Daingerfields  have  a 
girls'  school  in  the  village.  The  Warm  seems  to  be 
retrograding.  I  hope  the  new  man,  Edward,  has  arrived. 
Tell  him  to  take  good  care  of  the  cow,  and  ask  the  girls 
to  see  to  her  and  the  garden,  etc.  I  saw  Mrs.  Caskie  at 
the  Baths.  She  looks  very  well.  Her  niece,  Gay,  is 
with  her,  a  pretty  little  child.  Mrs.  Myers  and  her 
children  are  also  there.  Mrs.  Asher  also.  Small 
company,  but  select.  All  pleased  with  Mr.  Brown,  f 
Tell  the  girls  I  have  no  one  to  rub  me  now.  Shall 
miss  them  in  this  and  other  ways  much.  Dr.  Cabell 
says  I  must  continue  my  medicines  and  commence 
with  the  hot  spout  to-morrow.  He  has  great  con 
fidence  in  the  waters,  and  says  that  95  out  of  100 
patients  that  he  has  treated  have  recovered.  I  shall 
alternate  the  spout  with  the  boiler.  But  he  says  the 
great  error  is  that  people  become  impatient  and  do  not 
stay  long  enough.  I  hope  I  may  be  benefited,  but  it  is 

*A  well-known  girls'  school  at  Staunton. 
f  The  manager  of  the  hotel. 


A  ROUND   OF  VISITS  423 

a  tedious  prospect.  I  hope  that  you  all  will  continue 
well.  If  you  wish  to  go  to  the  Baths,  or  to  come  here, 
you  must  do  so  and  write  me  what  you  want,  if  there  is 
anything  I  can  do  or  get  for  you.  Give  love  to  all 
the  girls  and  remembrances  to  all  friends.  Tell  our 
neighbours  that  I  was  so  occupied  the  last  days  I  was  in 
Lexington  that  I  had  not  time  to  bid  them  adieu.  If 
you  want  more  money  let  me  know.  God  bless  you  and 
preserve  you  all.  Good-bye,  dear  Mary. 
"Most  truly, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 


The  Richard  mentioned  had  been  lately  his  house  ser 
vant  at  Lexington,  and  Edward  was  a  new  man  he  had 
engaged  for  the  garden  and  stable.  The  letters  written 
to  my  mother  and  others  of  his  family  from  the  Hot 
Springs  at  this  time  were  frequent,  and  I  give  them  in 
full,  as  they  tell  all  we  know  now  of  his  visit  there : 

"  HOT  SPRINGS,  Bath  County,  Virginia, 

August   14,    1870. 

"My  Dear  Mary:  I  received  this  morning  the  last  let 
ters  forwarded  by  you.  The  first  batch  arrived  yesterday. 
I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  all  continue  well.  I  hope  my 
letter  of  the  loth,  announcing  my  arrival,  has  reached 
you.  It  should  have  done  so,  it  seems  to  me,  previously 
to  your  note  of  Friday.  I  have  but  little  more  to  say 
than  I  had  then.  I  have  taken  four  baths,  Hot  Spout, 
which  seems  to  agree  with  me  very  well,  but  it  is  too  soon 
yet  to  look  for  results.  I  receive  the  water  on  my  shoul 
der,  back,  and  chest.  The  sensation  is  pleasant,  and  so  far 
I  have  succeeded  in  preventing  taking  cold.  The  atmos 
phere,  however,  is  damp,  and  temperature  variable. 
When  the  sun  shines,  it  is  hot ;  but  when  it  rains,  which  is 
the  usual  condition  of  the  weather,  the  former  the  excep 
tion,  it  is  cool.  Mrs.  Sledge  and  party  are  here,  the  for- 


424       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

mer  improved.  She  was  much  better,  went  over  to  the 
White  and  Sweet,  retrograded,  and  returned.  Will  stay 
here  September.  Many  of  our  invalids  are  improving. 
Society  has  a  rather  solemn  appearance,  and  conversa 
tion  runs  mostly  on  personal  ailments,  baths,  and  damp 
weather.  There  were  some  pretty  tableaux  last  evening. 
The  Misses  Tardy,  Mrs.  Dobbin,  and  the  little  girls,  the 
performers.  Mr.  Washington*  is  here.  He  looks  well,  is 
quiet,  and  has  been  copying  points  of  scenery  in  the  neigh 
bourhood.  I  do  not  know  whether  he  was  in  search  of 
health  or  the  picturesque.  The  latter  is  more  easily  found 
in  these  mountains  than  the  former.  Captain  White  is 
well  and  sends  remembrances  to  all.  •  I  hope  Edward  has 
arrived  and  is  an  improvement  on  the  present  occupant  of 
the  situation.  If  he  does  not  present  himself,  retain 
Henry  till  I  come.  I  will  endeavour  to  find  some  one. 
You  do  not  mention  the  cow;  she  is  of  more  interest  to 
me  than  the  cats,  and  is  equally  destructive  of  rats.  I  am 
glad  the  girls  are  well;  what  are  they  troubling  about 
now?  I  wish  they  were  with  me.  I  find  many  ladies 
here  for  neuralgia.  Mrs.  General  Walker  has  been  much 
benefited,  also  others.  If  little  Agnes  should  desire  to 
try  the  effects  of  the  waters,  tell  her  to  come  on,  I  will  take 
care  of  her.  I  suppose  Tabb  will  go  with  her  husband. 
I  am  sorry  Fitzhugh  is  complaining.  I  have  written  to 
Rob  and  Miss  Lottie. t  I  heard  of  Charles  Carter's]:  pass 
ing  up  the  road  to  the  White,  and  Mildred  preceded  him  a 
week.  Ella,  I  hear,  is  much  improved.  I  shall  not  go  to 
the  White  unless  specially  called  by  something  now 
unknown,  but  will  remain  here  till  the  end  of  the  month, 
if  I  find  it  profitable,  and  then  return  to  Lexington.  I 
hope  the  college  is  prospering.  What  does  Mrs.  Podestad 

*  William  Washington,  a  well-known  painter  of  that  day,  who 
was  for  a  short  time  professor  of  painting  and  drawing  at  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute  at  Lexington. 

fMiss  Charlotte  Haxall,  afterward  Mrs.  Robert  E.  Lee,  Jr.,  who 
died  in  1872. 

J  Charles  Carter,  of  "Goodwood,"  Maryland,  was  my  father's  first 
cousin.  Mildred  and  Ella,  two  of  his  daughters, 


A  ROUND  OF  VISITS  425 

say  ?  I  understand  that  Markie  Peter*  and  child  are  occu 
pying  her  old  quarters  at  the  Lomaxes  near  Warrenton. 
I  have  a  merry  time  with  my  old  cronies,  tell  Mildred.  I 
am  getting  too  heavy  for  them  now.  They  soon  drop  me. 
I  am  getting  uneasy  about  Edward  and  Blanche.  The 
reverses  of  the  French,  which  seem  to  be  light,  appear  to 
have  demoralised  the  nation.  May  God  help  all  in  afflic 
tion  and  keep  and  guard  you  and  all  with  you,  is  my  con 
stant  prayer. 

"  Truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE." 


"  HOT  SPRINGS,  Bath  County,  Virginia, 

August  19,  1870. 

"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  received  this  morning  your  letters 
of  the  1 4th  and  i8th,  inclosing  Dr.  Buckler's,  and  was 
informed  by  Colonel  Turner  that  he  had  brought  the 
package  to  which  you  referred.  He  has  not  yet  sent  it 
to  me,  but,  no  doubt,  will  in  time.  I  am  sorry  that 
Edward  has  not  kept  his  engagement,  for  I  liked  his 
appearance  and  recommendations,  though  perhaps  they 
are  deceptive.  You  had  better  retain  Henry  till  I  come, 
unless  you  fall  in  with  a  better.  I  am  glad  that  you  are 
all  well.  You  have  such  industrious  little  daughters 
that  I  am  sure  all  will  go  well.  Thank  Agnes  for  her  let 
ter  and  say  to  her  that  I  have  not  seen  Mr.  Vanmeter  or 
Blair,  but  gave  the  letter  to  the  former  to  Colonel  White, 
who  will  send  it  to  him  when  he  finds  out  his  position. 
Mr.  Thorn  arrived  this  morning  and  Mr.  John  Johns  and 
family  rode  over  from  the  Healing.  They  are  there  for  a 
sick  child.  My  old  friend,  Dr.  Broaddus,  and  the  Rev 
erend  Mr.  Jones  also  presented  themselves.  ...  I 
have  been  trying  the  Boiler  for  four  days — and  the  Spout 
the  five  preceding.  I  do  not  perceive  any  benefit  yet, 
though  some  little  change  in  the  seat  of  my  pains.  I  will 

*  Mrs.  Peter  was  a  near  cousin  of  my  mother,  and  with  her  as  a  little 
girl  our  associations  had  been  very  near. 


426       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

continue  till  the  middle  of  next  week,  the  29th,  when,  if 
no  decided  improvement  takes  place,  I  think  of  going 
over  to  the  Healing.  Dr.  Houston  thinks  that  it  will  be 
beneficial,  whereas  Dr.  Cabell  recommends  this.  I  am 
obliged  to  be  in  Staunton  on  the  3oth  ult.  to  attend  a 
meeting  of  the  Valley  Railroad  Company,  so  I  shall  leave 
here  on  the  2Qth  for  that  purpose.  After  getting  through 
with  that  business,  I  shall  return  to  Lexington.  I  am 
sorry  that  I  shall  be  called  away,  but  I  fear  my  stay  here 
would  be  of  no  avail.  Colonel  White  is  well  and  sends 
regards  to  all.  I  am  glad  that  the  cow  is  better.  She 
stands  next  in  my  affections  to  Traveller.  ...  I  hope 
that  Agnes 's  neuralgia  is  better,  and  as  she  has  not  ac 
cepted  my  proposition  I  presume  she  declines.  Hot 
bathing  is  not  agreeable  to  me  either  in  its  operations  or 
effects,  but  I  see  daily  evidences  of  its  good  results  in 
others.  I  wish  that  it  suited  your  case.  You  must  try 
and  get  some  one  in  Sally's  place  if  Tabb,  etc.,  come,  and 
make  them  all  comfortable.  If  you  want  more  money, 
let  me  know  in  time.  Send  over  to  Mr.  Ley  burn  for  the 
flour,  when  you  want  it.  Mr.  Bowie,  I  suspect,  can 
arrange  it  for  you.  I  fear  Captain  Brooks 's  house  will 
not  be  ready  for  occupancy  this  fall.  I  hope  that  General 
Smith  will  begin  Custis's  in  time.  I  heard  of  him  on  his 
way  to  Edward  Cocke's  the  other  day.  Mr.  Washington 
is  still  here.  Better,  I  think.  Again  love  to  all. 
"  Most  truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE. 
"  P.  S. — Mr.  Turner  has  just  sent  me  the  package. 

"R.  E.  L." 

To  his  son  Fitzhugh,  who  was  at  the  "White  House" 
with  his  family: 

"HoT  SPRINGS,  Bath  County,  Virginia, 

August  20,  1870. 

11  My  Dear  Fitzhugh:  I  am  very  sorry  to  learn  from  your 
letter  of  the  i8th,  received  this  morning,  that  Tabb  is  sick. 


A  ROUND  OF  VISITS  427 

I  hope  that  it  will  be  of  short  duration  and  that  she  will 
soon  throw  off  the  chills.  The  mountain  doctors,  how 
ever,  do  not  understand  them  as  well  as  the  lowland,  and 
are  apt  to  resort  to  the  old  practice.  I  wish  that  I  could 
get  to  the  White  to  see  you,  but  my  time  is  too  limited, 
owing  to  the  late  day  that  I  was  able  to  leave  Lexington. 
I  propose  staying  here  till  the  2gthinst.,  which  will  only 
make  my  sojourn  here  two  and  a  half  weeks,  and  then 
going  to  St  aunt  on,  where  I  am  obliged  to  attend  a  meeting 
of  the  Valley  Railroad  Company  on  the  3oth.  I  hope  that 
I  shall  not  be  detained  there  longer  than  a  day  or  two,  when 
I  will  return  to  Lexington,  where  I  hope  to  find  you  all. 
You  must  tell  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Podestad,  Mr.  Carter,  Ella, 
etc.,  how  sorry  I  am  not  to  see  them  at  the  White,  but 
that  I  hope  they  will  call  at  Lexington.  I  wrote  to  Ella 
on  my  first  arrival  here,  but  presume  my  letter  failed  to 
reach  her.  You  did  not  mention  how  her  health  was.  I 
am  much  concerned  at  Tabb's  indisposition,  but  am  glad 
to  hear  that  the  baby  is  well.  Give  my  love  to  both,  and 
I  trust  you  will  all  be  benefited  by  the  mountain  air. 
My  personal  health  is  good,  but  I  see  no  change  in  my 
rheumatic  attack,  which  is  principally  confined  to  my  chest 
and  back.  I  inclose  a  note  from  your  mother,  transmitted 
on  the  supposition  that  I  would  write  to  you.  Profes 
sor  White  is  with  me  and  I  have  some  few  acquaintances, 
but  I  am  anxious  to  return.  I  am  glad  that  Bertus  has 
had  a  short  visit  to  Orange.  He  says  that  he  will  come 
to  Rockbridge  in  September.  Custis  will  be  there  by  the 
first,  and  we  shall  all,  I  hope,  be  together  again. 
11  Affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

"  HOT  SPRINGS,  Bath  County,  Virginia, 

"August  23,  1870. 

"My  Dear  Mary:  I  have  received  your  various  notes 
of  the  1 7th  and  i8th,  and  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  well- 
being.  Our  good  cow  will  be  a  loss  to  us,  but  her  troubles 
are  all  over  now,  and  I  am  grateful  to  her  for  what  she  has 


428       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

done  for  us.  I  hope  that  we  did  our  duty  to  her.  I  have 
written  to  Mr.  Andrew  Cameron  to  inquire  about  a  young 
cow  he  has  of  mine,  and  asked  him  to  let  you  know  if  she 
is  giving  milk.  If  his  report  is  good,  you  had  better  send 
for  her.  She  is,  however,  young,  and  will  require  very 
gentle  treatment.  Caution  Henry  on  that  point.  I  have 

told  him,  Mr.  C ,  also,  that  you  would  send  for  the 

horses,  which  I  wish  you  would  do  as  soon  as  you  can  see 
that  they  will  be  properly  cared  for.  Tell  Henry  to  be 
particularly  gentle  and  kind  to  them,  or  the  gray  will  give 
him  great  trouble.  He  must  wash  them  clean,  and  not 
pull  out  their  manes  and  tails.  The  girls  will  have  to 
exercise  them  till  Custis  comes.  I  suppose  we  may  give 
up  expecting  Edward.  Retain  Henry  till  you  can  find 
some  one  better.  You  had  also  better  engage  some  woman 
or  man  for  a  month  as  a  dining-room  servant.  I  think 
Easter  has  no  intention  of  coming  to  us  before  October, 
and  she  will  not  come  then  if  Mr.  -  -  can  keep  her. 
You  will  have  so  many  friends  staying  with  you  that  you 
cannot  make  them  comfortable  unless  you  have  more 
servants.  As  I  stated  in  a  previous  letter,  I  shall  go  to 
Staunton  on  the  29th.  I  hope  I  shall  be  detained  but  a 
few  days.  Lest  your  funds  may  run  low,  I  send  you  a 
check  .  .  .  The  girls  can  get  it  cashed.  I  may  be 
detained,  but  I  hope  to  return  in  time  to  see  our  children 
and  friends.  I  have  been  here  a  fortnight  to-day.  I  hope 
that  I  am  better,  but  am  aware  of  no  material  change, 
except  that  I  am  weaker.  I  am  very  anxious  to  get  back. 
It  is  very  wearying  at  these  public  places  and  the  benefit 
hardly  worth  the  cost.  I  do  not  think  I  can  even  stand 
Lexington  long.  Colonels  Allan  and  Johnston*  arrived 
this  evening  on  horseback  and  have  given  me  all  Lexing 
ton  news.  Mr.  Sledge  and  his  wife,  from  Huntsville, 
brother  of  the  Colonel,  also  arrived,  and  a  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leeds,  from  New  Orleans,  with  ten  children,  mostly  little 

*Professors  Win.  Allan  and  William  Preston  Johnston  of  Washington 
College.  The  former  afterward  principal  of  the  McDonough  School, 
near  Baltimore,  Maryland;  the  latter  president  of  Tulane  University, 
New  Orleans. 


A  ROUND  OF  VISITS  429 

girls.  The  latter  are  a  great  addition  to  my  comfort.  I 
have  written  to  Fitzhugh  and  Mrs.  Podestad.  Robert, 
you  know,  said  he  would  make  his  annual  visit  the  first 
week  in  September.  Tell  the  girls  they  must  make 
preparations  to  welcome  all.  Mrs.  Walker,  wife  of  the 
former  Secretary  of  War  in  the  Confederacy,  is  here  with 
her  son,  whom  she  says  she  is  anxious  to  place  in  college, 
and  wishes  to  visit  Lexington  with  that  view.  I  have 
offered  my  escort  and  invited  her  to  stay  with  us.  I  do 
not  know  whether  she  will  go  with  me.  The  girls  will 
have  to  prepare  my  room  for  some  of  the  visitors,  and  put 
me  anywhere.  I  can  be  very  comfortable  in  the  library. 
Tell  the  little  creatures  they  must  work  like  beavers  and 
get  a  supply  of  eggs  and  chickens.  Recollect  there  is 
flour  at  Ley  burn's  mill  when  you  want  it.  Thank  Mil 
dred  for  her  letter.  Remember  me  to  all,  and  believe  me, 
"Always  yours  affectionately, 

R.  E.  LEE. 

"MRS.  M.  C.  LEE. 

"  P.  S. — I  send  you  an  order  for  the  horses.  Tell  Henry 
to  take  with  him  a  bridle  and  halter.  You  must  write  for 
the  cow  if  you  want  her.  R.  E.  LEE." 

Mr.  Andrew  Cameron  owned  a  fine  farm  near  Lexing 
ton,  and  kindly  took  care  of  my  father's  horses  when  he 
was  away  in  the  summer ;  also  at  different  times  supplied 
him  with  a  cow  and  took  care  of  any  calf,  if  there  happened 
to  be  one,  till  it  was  of  service.  My  father  constantly 
rode  out  to  see  him,  and  enjoyed  talking  farming  as  they 
rode  together  over  his  fields.  His  delight  in  every  aspect 
of  Nature  was  real  and  ever  present.  These  letters  show, 
too,  his  care  and  consideration  for  animals. 

His  letter  to  his  daughter  Agnes  is  in  lighter  vein.  His 
playful  moods,  so  usual  with  his  children,  never  entirely 
left  him. 


430       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

"  HOT  SPRINGS,  Bath  County,  Virginia, 

"August  23,   1870. 

"  My  Dear  Agnes:  I  have  received  both  of  your  letters, 
the  last  the  lyth,  and  thank  you  for  them  as  well  as  for 
your  care  of  my  room  and  clothes.  The  former  I  under 
stand  is  used  for  a  multiplicity  of  purposes,  and  the  cats 
and  kittens  have  the  full  run  of  my  establishment.  Guard 
me  against  '  Miss  Selden,'*  I  pray  you.  I  am  sorry  that 
you  are  not  with  me,  as  it  possibly  may  have  benefited 
your  neuralgia.  But  if  Miss  Belle  is  with  you,  I  am  sure 
she  will  be  of  greater  service,  and  tell  her  she  must  remain 
till  I  come,  that  she  may  cure  me.  That  you  may  have 
some  other  inducements  than  your  flowers  and  weeds  to 
take  you  out  of  doors,  I  will  write  to  your  mother  to  send 
for  the  horses  as  soon  as  she  can  make  arrangements  to 
have  them  cared  for,  and  then  you  and  Mildred  and  Miss 
Belle,  the  one  on  Traveller,  the  other  on  Lucy,  can  scour 
the  country  and  keep  us  in  eggs  and  chickens.  I  am 
sorry  for  the  death  of  our  good  cow,  but  glad  that  she  is 
out  of  misery.  ...  I  do  not  think  any  of  your 
friends  are  here.  Mr.  Washington  has  been  vibrating 
between  this  place  and  the  Healing,  but  does  not  seem  to 
be  well.  Miss  Alman,  from  Salem,  Massachusetts,  whom 
you  may  recollect  as  having  been  at  the  White  last  sum 
mer,  is  here  with  her  father  and  mother.  Miss  Mollie 
Jourdan  left  to-day,  and  Colonel  Robert  Preston  arrived. 
The  Chestnuts  and  Le  Verts  are  still  here.  I  hope  that 
you  are  well  and  that  all  is  well  with  you.  When  Custis 
comes,  ask  him  to  see  to  the  horses  and  the  cow  and  that 
they  are  gently  treated  and  properly  fed.  I  know  nothing 
of  Henry's  capacity  in  that  way.  I  hope  to  be  home  next 
week  and  am  very  anxious  to  get  back. 

"Your  father, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

*  Mildred's  kitten. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 
LAST  DAYS 

LETTER  TO  HIS   WIFE— TO  MR.  TAGART— OBITUARY   NOTICE 
IN  "  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES  OF  GENERAL  ROBERT  E. 

LEE" — MRS.  LEE'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  DEATH 

THE  following  is  the  last  letter  that  I  can  find  written 
by  my  father  to  my  mother.  He  was  back  in  Lexington 
early  in  September,  and  was  never  separated  from  her 
again  while  he  lived: 

"HOT  SPRINGS,  August  27,  1870. 
"  My  Dear  Mary:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the 
22d.  I  should  remain  here  a  week  longer  if  time  per 
mitted,  as  I  have  felt  in  the  last  few  days  better  than  I 
have  yet,  but  I  am  obliged  to  be  in  Staunton  on  the  3oth, 
and  therefore  must  leave  Monday,  29th.  I  should  not 
have  time  to  return  here.  The  college  opens  on  Septem 
ber  isth,  and  I  wish  to  see  that  all  things  are  prepared. 
Possibly  the  little  improvement  now  felt  will  continue. 
If  not,  I  shall  have  to  bear  my  malady.  I  am  truly  sorry 
to  hear  of  Edwin  Lee's  death.*  He  was  a  true  man,  and, 
if  health  had  permitted,  would  have  been  an  ornament 
as  well  as  a  benefit  to  his  race.  He  certainly  was  a  great 

*  Colonel  Edwin  Grey  Lee  was  a  near  cousin.  He  had  distinguished 
himself  in  the  late  war.  At  its  commencement  he  had  volunteered, 
and  was  made  a  26.  lieutenant  in  the  Second  Virginia  regiment, 
' '  Stonewall  Brigade. ' '  From  that  rank  he  quickly  rose  to  be  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  33d  Virginia,  in  the  same  brigade.  In  1862  his  health, 
which  was  very  feeble,  compelled  him  to  resign,  but  after  a  short 
time  he  again  entered  the  service,  though  he  never  became  strong 
enough  to  serve  actively  in  the  field.  General  Lee's  opinion  of  his 
abilities  was  very  high. 

431 


432       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

credit  to  the  name.  Give  my  sincere  sympathy  to  his 
wife  and  family.  You  have  never  mentioned  anything 
of  Dr.  Grahame.  I  have  heard  that  he  was  in  a  critical 
condition.  I  saw  Colonels  Allan  and  Johnston.  They 
only  stayed  a  day,  and  went  on  to  the  White.  I  have 
heard  of  them  on  their  return,  and  presume  they  will 
reach  Lexington  to-morrow.  Mr.  George  Taylor,  who 
has  been  a  month  at  the  White,  arrived  here  to-day. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  well.  The  company  is  thinning, 
though  arrivals  occur  daily.  Mr.  Middleton  and  his 
daughter  and  son,  from  Washington,  whom  you  may  recol 
lect,  also  came.  But  I  hope  to  see  you  so  soon  that  I  will 
defer  my  narrative.  I  am  glad  that  Mary  is  enjoying  her 
self  and  that  Rob  is  so  happy.  May  both  long  continue 
so.  I  will  endeavour  to  get  the  muslin,  but  fear  I  shall 
not  succeed.  I  trust  I  may  not  be  detained  in  Staunton 
more  than  a  day  or  two.  In  that  event,  you  may  expect 
me  Thursday,  September  ist,  but  I  cannot  say  as  to  time. 
I  hope  that  I  shall  find  you  all  well.  Give  my  love  to 
Agnes  and  Mildred,  and  Custis,  if  he  has  arrived.  Colonel 
Turner  is  very  well.  Tell  his  wife  that  he  was  exhibited 
to-day  at  the  Healing  as  a  specimen  of  the  health  of  the 
Hot.  In  my  last  I  gave  you  my  views  about  the  servants 
and  sent  you  a  check  for  -  — ,  which  I  hope  that  you  have 
received.  Most  truly  and  affectionately, 

"R.  E.  LEE." 

His  last  letter  was  written  on  the  morning  of  the  day 
he  was  taken  ill,  September  28th.  It  was  to  Mr.  Tagart, 
of  Baltimore,  at  whose  home  he  had  stayed  the  previous 
summer.  Its  tone  was  cheerful  and  hopeful,  and  he 
wrote  that  he  was  much  better  and  stronger. 

"  LEXINGTON,  Virginia,  September  28,  1870. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Tagart:    Your  note  of  the  26th  reached 

me  this  morning,  and  see  how  easy  it  is  'to  inveigle  me 

into  a  correspondence.'     In  fact,   when  a  man  desires 

to  do  a.  thing,  or  when  a  thing  gives  a  man  pleasure,  he 


LAST  DAYS  433 

requires  but  small  provocation  to  induce  him  to  do  it. 
Now  I  wanted  to  hear  how  you  and  Mrs.  Tagart  were, 
what  you  were  doing,  and  how  you  had  passed  the 
summer,  and  I  desired  to  tell  you  so.  That  is  the  reason 
I  write.  In  answer  to  your  question,  I  reply  that  I  am 
much  better.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  owing  to 
having  seen  you  and  Doctor  Buckler  last  summer,  or  to 
my  visit  to  the  Hot  Springs.  Perhaps  both.  But  my 
pains  are  less,  and  my  strength  greater.  In  fact,  I 
suppose  I  am  as  well  as  I  shall  be.  I  am  still  following 

Doctor  B ?s  directions,  and  in  time  I  may  improve 

still  more.  I  expect  to  have  to  visit  Baltimore  this  fall, 
in  relation  to  the  Valley  Railroad,  and  in  that  event  I 
hope  to  see  you,  if  you  will  permit  me.  I  am  glad  to 

hear  that  you  spent  a  pleasant  summer.     Colonel  

and  I  would  have  had  a  more  agreeable  one  had  you  been 
with  us  at  the  Hot,  and  as  every  place  agrees  so  well  with 
Mrs.  Tagart,  I  think  she  could  have  enjoyed  as  good 
health  there  as  at  Saratoga,  and  we  should  have  done 
better.  Give  my  sincere  regards  to  Mrs.  Tagart,  and 
remember  me  to  all  friends,  particularly  Mr.  -  — .  Tell 

his  brother  is  well  and  handsome,  and  I  hope  that 

he  will  study,  or  his  sweethearts  in  Baltimore  will  not 
pine  for  him  long.  Captain  -  -  is  well  and  busy,  and 
joins  in  my  remembrances.  Mrs.  Lee  and  my  daughters 
unite  with  me  in  messages  to  you  and  Mrs.  Tagart,  and 
I  am  most  truly  yours,  R.  E.  LEE. 

"S.  H.  TAGART,  Esq." 

When  my  brother  Fitzhugh  and  I  reached  Lexington, 
my  father  was  no  more.  He  died  the  morning  of  our 
arrival — October  i2th.  He  had  apparently  improved 
after  his  first  attack,  and  the  summoning  of  my  brother 
and  myself  had  been  put  off  from  day  to  day.  After 
we  did  start  we  were  delayed  by  the  floods,  which  at  that 
time  prevailed  over  the  State.  Of  his  last  illness  and 
death  I  have  heard  from  my  family. 


434       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

The  best  account  of  those  last  days  was  written  by 
Colonel  William  Preston  Johnston  for  the  "  Personal 
Reminiscences  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee,"  by  the  Rev. 
J.  W.  Jones,  published  in  1874.  Colonel  Johnston  was 
an  intimate  friend  of  the  General  and  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  faculty  of  his  college.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  watchers  by  his  dying  bedside.  I,  therefore,  give  it 
in  full: 

"  The  death  of  General  Lee  was  not  due  to  any  sudden 
cause,  but  was  the  result  of  agencies  dating  as  far  back 
as  1863.  In  the  trying  campaign  of  that  year  he  con 
tracted  a  severe  sore  throat,  that  resulted  in  rheumatic 
inflammation  of  the  sac  inclosing  the  heart.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  after  this  sickness  his  health  was  more  or 
less  impaired;  and  although  he  complained  little,  yet 
rapid  exercise  on  foot  or  on  horseback  produced  pain  and 
difficulty  of  breathing.  In  October,  1869,  he  was  again 
attacked  by  inflammation  of  the  heart-sac,  accompanied 
by  muscular  rheumatism  of  the  back,  right  side,  and 
arms.  The  action  of  the  heart  was  weakened  by  this 
attack;  the  flush  upon  the  face  was  deepened,  the  rheu 
matism  increased,  and  he  was  troubled  with  weariness 
and  depression. 

"In  March,  1870,  General  Lee,  yielding  to  the  solicita 
tions  of  friends  and  medical  advisers,  made  a  six-weeks' 
visit  to  Georgia  and  Florida.  He  returned  greatly 
benefited  by  the  influence  of  the  genial  climate,  the 
society  of  friends  in  those  States,  and  the  demonstrations 
of  respect  and  affection  of  the  people  of  the  South; 
his  physical  condition,  however,  was  not  greatly  im 
proved.  During  this  winter  and  spring  he  had  said  to 
his  son,  General  Custis  Lee,  that  his  attack  was  mortal; 
and  had  virtually  expressed  the  same  belief  to  other 
trusted  friends.  And  now,  with  that  delicacy  that 
pervaded  all  his  actions,  he  seriously  considered  the 
question  of  resigning  the  presidency  of  Washington 


\ViV:..arr>  Preston  Johnston  for  the  "Person.*;, 
enoes  of  General  Robert.  E,  Lee,"  by  the  Rev. 
Mies,  published  in  1874.  Colonel  Johnston  was 
late  friend  of  the  General  and  a  distinguished 
of  the  faculty  of  his  college.  He  was  also  one  of 
;hers  by  his  dying  bedside/  I,  therefore,  give  it 


ie  was  not  due  to  any  sudden 
f  agencies  Sating  as  far  back 


iaflammation  v.vf  tibb-iftC  inclosing  the  heart.     There  is  no 
doubt  that  ati<;      -^  sickness  his  health  was  more  or 


>jtp  -nr  xluced  pain  and 

VALENTINE'S  RECUMBENT  FIGURE  OF  LEE 
Washington  and  Lee  University,  Lexington,  Va. 


natisrri  increased,  and  be  *"as  troubled  with  weariness 
tnd  depression.  „• 

"In  March,  1870,  General  Lee,  yielding  to  the  son 
ions  of  friends- and  medical  advisers,  made  a  six-weeks' 
/isit-   to   Georgia    and    Florida.     He    returned    greatly 
xr-.iftited  by  the  influence  of  the  genial  climate ,   tl 

:  ic  tv  of  friends  in  those  States,  and  the  demonstrations 
>;    respect  and  affection  of  the  people  ot  tn< 
iiis   physical  condition,  however,  was  not 

roved:"   Durine  this -winter  and  spring  he  had  said  to 


And  now,  With  that  delicacy 
actions,  he  seriously  considers 
ninty  thi*  Twesidencv  of  Washi 


LAST  DAYS  435 

College,  '  fearful  that  he  might  not  be  equal  to  his  duties.' 
After  listening,  however,  to  the  affectionate  remonstrances 
of  the  faculty  and  board  of  trustees,  who  well  knew  the 
value  of  his  wisdom  in  the  supervision  of  the  college  and 
the  power  of  his  mere  presence  and  example  upon  the 
students,  he  resumed  his  labours  with  the  resolution  to 
remain  at  his  post  and  carry  forward  the  great  work  he 
had  so  auspiciously  begun. 

"During  the  summer  he  spent  some  weeks  at  the 
Hot  Springs  of  Virginia,  using  the  baths,  and  came  home 
seemingly  better  in  health  and  spirits.  He  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  the  opening  collegiate  year  in  September 
with  that  quiet  zeal  and  noiseless  energy  that  marked 
all  his  actions,  and  an  unusual  elation  was  felt  by  those 
about  him  at  the  increased  prospect  that  long  years  of 
usefulness  and  honour  would  yet  be  added  to  his  glorious 
life. 

"Wednesday,  September  28,  1870,  found  General  Lee 
at  the  post  of  duty.  In  the  morning  he  was  fully  occupied 
with  the  correspondence  and  other  tasks  incident  to  his 
office  of  president  of  Washington  College,  and  he  de 
clined  offers  of  assistance  from  members  of  the  faculty, 
of  whose  services  he  sometimes  availed  himself.  After 
dinner,  at  four  o'clock,  he  attended  a  vestry-meeting  of 
Grace  (Episcopal)  church.  The  afternoon  was  chilly  and 
wet,  and  a  steady  rain  had  set  in,  which  did  not  cease 
until  it  resulted  in  a  great  flood,  the  most  memorable  and 
destructive  in  this  region  for  a  hundred  years.  The 
church  was  rather  cold  and  damp,  and  General  Lee, 
during  the  meeting,  sat  in  a  pew  with  his  military  cape 
cast  loosely  about  him.  In  a  conversation  that  occupied 
the  brief  space  preceding  the  call  to  order,  he  took  part, 
and  told  with  marked  cheerfulness  of  manner  and  kindli 
ness  of  tone  some  pleasant  anecdotes  of  Bishop  Meade 
and  Chief- Justice  Marshall.  The  meeting  was  protracted 
until  after  seven  o'clock  by  a  discussion  touching  the 
rebuilding  of  the  church  edifice  and  the  increase  of  the 
rector's  salary.  General  Lee  acted  as  chairman,  and, 


436       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

after  hearing  all  that  was  said,  gave  his  own  opinion,  as 
was  his  wont,  briefly  and  without  argument.  He  closed 
the  meeting  with  a  characteristic  act.  The  amount 
required  for  the  minister's  salary  still  lacked  a  sum  much 
greater  than  General  Lee's  proportion  of  the  subscription, 
in  view  of  his  frequent  and  generous  contributions  to 
the  church  and  other  charities,  but  just  before  the  ad 
journment,  when  the  treasurer  announced  the  amount 
of  the  deficit  still  remaining,  General  Lee  said  in  a  low 
tone,  'I  will  give  that  sum.'  He  seemed  tired  toward 
the  close  of  the  meeting,  and,  as  was  afterward  remarked, 
showed  an  unusual  flush,  but  at  the  time  no  apprehensions 
were  felt. 

"  General  Lee  returned  to  his  house,  and,  finding  his 
family  waiting  tea  for  him,  took  his  place  at  the  table, 
standing  to  say  grace.  The  effort  was  vain;  the  lips 
could  not  utter  the  prayer  of  the  heart.  Finding  himself 
unable  to  speak,  he  took  his  seat  quietly  and  without 
agitation.  His  face  seemed  to  some  of  the  anxious 
group  about  him  to  wear  a  look  of  sublime  resignation, 
and  to  evince  a  full  knowledge  that  the  hour  had  come 
when  all  the  cares  and  anxieties  of  his  crowded  life  were 
at  an  end.  His  physicians,  Doctors  H.  S.  Barton  and 
R.  L.  Madison,  arrived  promptly,  applied  the  usual 
remedies,  and  placed  him  upon  the  couch  from  which  he 
was  to  rise  no  more. 

"To  him  henceforth  the  things  of  this  world  were 
as  nothing,  and  he  bowed  with  resignation  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  Master  he  had  followed  so  long  with  reverence. 
The  symptoms  of  his  attack  resembled  concussion  of 
the  brain,  without  the  attendant  swoon.  There  was 
marked  debility,  a  slightly  impaired  consciousness,  and 
a  tendency  to  doze ;  but  no  paralysis  of  motion  or  sensa 
tion,  and  no  evidence  of  suffering  or  inflammation  of  the 
brain.  His  physicians  treated  the  case  as  one  of  venous 
congestion,  and  with  apparently  favourable  results. 
Yet,  despite  these  propitious  auguries  drawn  from  his 
physical  symptoms,  in  view  of  the  great  mental  strain  he 


LAST  DAYS  437 

had  undergone,  the  gravest  fears  were  felt  that  the  attack 
was  mortal.  He  took  without  objection  the  medicines 
and  diet  prescribed,  and  was  strong  enough  to  turn  in 
bed  without  aid,  and  to  sit  up  to  take  nourishment. 
During  the  earlier  days  of  his  illness,  though  inclined  to 
doze,  he  was  easily  aroused,  was  quite  conscious  and 
observant,  evidently  understood  whatever  was  said  to 
him,  and  answered  questions  briefly  but  intelligently; 
he  was,  however,  averse  to  much  speaking,  generally 
using  monosyllables,  as  had  always  been  his  habit  when 
sick. 

"When  first  attacked,  he  said  to  those  who  were 
removing  his  clothes,  pointing  at  the  same  time  to  his 
rheumatic  shoulder,  'You  hurt  my  arm.'  Although  he 
seemed  to  be  gradually  improving  until  October  roth,  he 
apparently  knew  from  the  first  that  the  appointed  hour 
had  come  when  he  must  enter  those  dark  gates  that, 
closing,  open  no  more  to  earth.  In  the  words  of  his 
physician,  'he  neither  expected  nor  desired  to  recover.' 
When  General  Custis  Lee  made  some  allusion  to  his 
recovery,  he  shook  his  head  and  pointed  upward.  On 
the  Monday  morning  before  his  death,  Doctor  Madison, 
finding  him  looking  better,  tried  to  cheer  him.  'How 
do  you  feel  to-day,  General?'  General  Lee  replied 
slowly  and  distinctly:  'I  feel  better.'  The  doctor  then 
said :  '  You  must  make  haste  and  get  well ;  Traveller  has 
been  standing  so  long  in  the  stable  that  he  needs  exercise. ' 
The  General  made  no  reply,  but  slowly  shook  his  head 
and  closed  his  eyes.  Several  times  during  his  illness  he 
put  aside  his  medicine,  saying,  'It  is  of  no  use,'  but 
yielded  patiently  to  the  wishes  of  his  physicians  or 
children,  as  if  the  slackened  chords  of  being  still  responded 
to  the  touch  of  duty  or  affection. 

"On  October  zoth,  during  the  afternoon,  his  pulse 
became  feeble  and  rapid,  and  his  breathing  hurried,  with 
other  evidences  of  great  exhaustion.  About  midnight  he 
was  seized  with  a  shivering  from  extreme  debility,  and 
Doctor  Barton  felt  obliged  to  announce  the  danger  to 


438       RECOLLECTIONS  OF  GENERAL  LEE 

the  family.  On  October  nth,  he  was  evidently  sinking; 
his  respiration  was  hurried,  his  pulse  feeble  and  rapid. 
Though  less  observant,  he  still  recognised  whoever 
approached  him,  but  refused  to  take  anything  unless 
prescribed  by  his  physicians.  It  now  became  certain 
that  the  case  was  hopeless.  His  decline  was  rapid,  yet 
gentle;  and  soon  after  nine  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of 
October  i2th,  he  closed  his  eyes,  and  his  soul  passed 
peacefully  from  earth. 

"  General  Lee's  physicians  attributed  his  death  in 
great  measure  to  moral  causes.  The  strain  of  his  cam 
paigns,  the  bitterness  of  defeat  aggravated  by  the  bad 
faith  and  insolence  of  the  victor,  sympathy  with  the 
subsequent  sufferings  of  the  Southern  people,  and  the 
effort  at  calmness  under  these  accumulated  sorrows, 
seemed  the  sufficient  and  the  real  causes  that  slowly  but 
steadily  undermined  his  health  and  led  to  his  death. 
Yet  to  those  who  saw  his  composure  under  the  greater 
and  lesser  trials  of  life,  and  his  justice  and  forbearance  with 
the  most  unjust  and  uncharitable,  it  seemed  scarcely 
credible  that  his  serene  soul  was  shaken  by  the  evil  that 
raged  around  him. 

"General  Lee's  closing  hours  were  consonant  with 
his  noble  and  disciplined  life.  Never  was  more  beautifully 
displayed  how  a  long  and  severe  education  of  mind  and 
character  enables  the  soul  to  pass  with  equal  step 
through  this  supreme  ordeal;  never  did  the  habits  and 
qualities  of  a  lifetime,  solemnly  gathered  into  a  few  last 
sad  hours,  more  grandly  maintain  themselves  amid  the 
gloom  and  shadow  of  approaching  death.  The  reticence, 
the  self-contained  composure,  the  obedience  to  proper 
authority,  the  magnanimity,  and  the  Christian  meekness, 
that  marked  all  his  actions,  still  preserved  their  sway,  in 
spite  of  the  inroads  of  disease  and  the  creeping  lethargy 
that  weighed  down  his  faculties. 

"  As  the  old  hero  lay  in  the  darkened  room,  or  with  the 
lamp  and  hearth-fire  casting  shadows  upon  his  calm, 
noble  front,  all  the  massive  grandeur  of  his  form,  and  face, 


LAST  DAYS  439 

and  brow  remained ;  and  death  seemed  to  lose  its  terrors, 
and  to  borrow  a  grace  and  dignity  in  sublime  keeping 
with  the  life  that  was  ebbing  away.  The  great  mind 
sank  to  its  last  repose,  almost  with  the  equal  poise  of 
health.  The  few  broken  utterances  that  evinced  at  times 
a  wandering  intellect  were  spoken  under  the  influence  of 
the  remedies  administered;  but  as  long  as  consciousness 
lasted  there  was  evidence  that  all  the  high,  controlling 
influences  of  his  whole  life  still  ruled;  and  even  when 
stupor  was  laying  its  cold  hand  on  the  intellectual  per 
ceptions,  the  moral  nature,  with  its  complete  orb  of 
duties  and  affections,  still  asserted  itself.  A  southern 
poet  has  celebrated  in  song  those  last  significant  words, 
'Strike  the  tent':  and  a  thousand  voices  were  raised  to 
give  meaning  to  the  uncertain  sound,  when  the  dying 
man  said,  with  emphasis,  '  Tell  Hill  he  must  come  up ! ' 
These  sentences  serve  to  show  most  touchingly  through 
what  fields  the  imagination  was  passing;  but  generally 
his  words,  though  few,  were  coherent ;  but  for  the  most 
part,  indeed,  his  silence  was  unbroken. 

"This  self-contained  reticence  had  an  awful  grandeur, 
in  solemn  accord  with  a  life  that  needed  no  defense. 
Deeds  which  required  no  justification  must  speak  for 
him.  His  voiceless  lips,  like  the  shut  gates  of  some  majes 
tic  temple,  were  closed,  not  for  concealment,  but  because 
that  within  was  holy.  Could  the  eye  of  the  mourning 
watcher  have  pierced  the  gloom  that  gathered  about  the 
recesses  of  that  great  soul  it  would  have  perceived  a 
presence  there  full  of  an  ineffable  glory.  Leaning  trust 
fully  upon  the  all-sustaining  Arm,  the  man  whose  stature, 
measured  by  mortal  standards,  seemed  so  great,  passed 
from  this  world  of  shadows  to  the  realities  of  the  here 
after." 

A  letter  from  my  mother  to  a  dear  friend  tells  the 
same  sad  story: 

" .  .  .  My  husband  came  in.  We  had  been  waiting 
tea  for  him,  and  I  remarked :  '  You  have  kept  us  waiting 


440       RECOLLECTIONS  OP  GENERAL  LEE 

a  long  time.  Where  have  you  been  ? '  He  did  not  reply, 
but  stood  up  as  if  to  say  grace.  Yet  no  word  proceeded 
from  his  lips,  and  he  sat  down  in  his  chair  perfectly 
upright  and  with  a  sublime  air  of  resignation  on  his 
countenance,  and  did  not  attempt  to  a  reply  to  our 
inquiries.  That  look  was  never  to  be  forgotten,  and 
I  have  no  doubt  he  felt  that  his  hour  had  come ;  for  though 
he  submitted  to  the  doctors,  who  were  immediately 
summoned,  and  who  had  not  even  reached  their  homes 
from  the  same  vestry -meeting,  yet  his  whole  demeanour 
during  his  illness  showed  one  who  had  taken  leave  of  earth. 
He  never  smiled,  and  rarely  attempted  to  speak,  except 
in  his  dreams,  and  then  he  wandered  to  those  dreadful 
battle-fields.  Once,  when  Agnes  urged  him  to  take  some 
medicine,  which  he  always  did  with  reluctance,  he  looked 
at  her  and  said,  'It  is  no  use.'  But  afterward  he  took 
it.  When  he  became  so  much  better  the  doctor  said, 
'  You  must  soon  get  out  and  ride  your  favorite  gray ! ' 
He  shook  his  head  most  emphatically  and  looked  upward. 
He  slept  a  great  deal,  but  knew  us  all,  greeted  us  with  a 
kindly  pressure  of  the  hand,  and  loved  to  have  us  around 
him.  For  the  last  forty-eight  hours  he  seemed  quite 
insensible  of  our  presence.  He  breathed  more  heavily, 
and  at  last  sank  to  rest  with  one  deep-drawn  sigh.  And 
oh,  what  a  glorious  rest  was  in  store  for  him !" 


THE   END 


INDEX 


ABBEVILLE,  112 

Ability,  206,  281 

Abingdon,  409 

Abolitionists,  231 

Academy,  179 

Accusations,  220 

Acquia  Creek,  72,  93,  350,  367 

Address,  182,  301 

Adjutant  General,  C.  S.  A.,  420 

Administration,  181 

Admiration,  276,  289,  332 

Advice,  71,  162,  164,  194,  309 

Adviser,  53 

Affection,     291,     295,    303,    348, 

392 

"Ajax"  (horse),  84 

Alabama,  321 

Albemarle  County,  176 

Albert,  Miss,  358,  359 

Alexander,    316 

Alexander,  Gen.  E.  P.,  36,  392 

Alexandria,  108,  114,  187,  189, 
242,  334,  335,  341,  344,  345» 
348,  349,  350,  351,  352,  356, 


361,  387,  413,  414,  417,  418. 
Alexandria  Academy,  415 
Alexandria  &  Orange  R.R.,   no 


Allan,  Colonel,  291,  360,  403,  428, 

432 

Alleghany  Mountains,  38,  52 
Allan,  Wm.,   251,  329,  330 
Alman,  Miss,  430 
Alston,  Mr.,  36 
Alston,  Mrs.,  392 
Alum  Springs,  185,  240 
Ambulance,  78 
Amelia  Court  House,  152 
Amelia  Island,  56,  395 
America,  227,  371 
Americans,  232,  338 
Ammunition,  63,  89,  123 
Amnesty,  163,  164,  181 
Amusements,  121,  253 
Anderson,  Col.  Archer,  148 
Anderson,  General,  72 
Anderson,  Messrs,  381 
Anderson,  Mrs.  J.  R.,  291 
Andersons,  The,  382,  395 


Andersonville,  224,  231 
"Annie"  (Mrs.  Chapman  Leigh), 

188 

Ann  Smith  Academy,  256 
Apparatus,   180 
Apples,  134,  141 
Appointment,  36,  180 
Appomattox,  83,   148,   150,   156, 

166,  409 
Architect,  341 
Arithmetic,  14 
Arkansas,  68,  355 
Arlington,  3,  6,  7,  8,  11,  14,  19, 

20,  21,  24,  25,  26,  29,  30,  32,  50, 

8l,  90,    187,    190,    203,    2O6,    222, 

223,    242,   336,   337,   350,   354, 
368,  396,  405,  414 
Arlington  Mills,  416 
Armistead,  Miss,  256 
Armory,  United  States,  22 
Arms,  46 

Army,  51,  89,  93,  95,  215,  236 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  73, 
75,  77,  91,  93,  95,  105,  106,  no, 
115,  123,  125,  126,  128,  129, 
148,  149,  150,  153,  154,  155,  164, 
165,  166,  218,  250,  259,  265,  272, 

348,  379.  391.  397r. 

Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  Asso 
ciation  of,  138 

Army  of  the  Potomac,  121,  122, 
123,  126,  128,  130,  261 

Army  of  the  Potomac,  History 
of,  150 

Arnica,  238 

Article,  281 

Arnold,  Dr.,  399 

Artillery,  70,  76,  85,  96,  118,  137, 
146,  150 

Ascension  Day  Services,  351 

"Ashby,"  247,  252 

Asher,  Mrs.,  422 

Association  of  the  Army  of  North 
ern  Virginia,  138 

Atkinson,  Bishop,  31,  401 

Atkinson,  Mrs.,  114 

Atkinson,  Nelson,  114 

Atlantic,  322,  370,  419 


441. 


442 


INDEX 


"Audley,"  42,  43 

Augusta,  390,  392 

Augusta  Agricultural  Fair,  329 

Authorities,  165,  182,  301 

Autograph,    198 

"Avenel,"  41,  270,  273 

BABIES,  186,  308 

Baby-talk,  167 

Baccalaureate  sermon,  396 

Bachelor,  309 

Bacon,  59 

Bacon  &  Lewis,  389 

Baggage,  70 

Bailey,  Prof.,  13 

Baker,  Mr.,  381 

Baker,  Mrs.,  349 

Bakers,  The,  209 

Ball,  120,  314,  324,  366 

Baltimore,  5,  6,  8,  10,  n,  22,  25, 
84,  175,  187,  189,  190,  197,  202, 
203,  211,  224,  243,  249,  252, 
253.  254,  256,  257,  275,  286, 
290,  293,  304,  307,  309,  312, 
321,  340,  344,  345,  346,  347, 
348,  349,  351,  371,  400,  401, 
406,  408,  412,  414,  419,  422, 
428,  432,  433 

Baltimore  American,  224 

Baltimore  &  Ohio  R.R.,  347 

"Baltimore  Row,"   274 

Bands,  107,  394 

Banister,  Miss,  304 

Banks,  General,  72,  73 

Baptist  Church,   267 

Bard,  212,  214 

Barksdale,  Mrs.,  418 

Barracks,  13 

Bartlett,  General,  136 

Barton,  Dr.,  320,  345,  389,  395, 

^  399.  437    . 

Barton,  Major,  355 

Baths,    50,    188,    208,    239,    240, 

242,    243,   327,   329,   361,   363, 

368»  423 

Bath,  Alum,  422 
Bath  County,  42,  318 
Battery,  34,  35.  63,  70,  73,  74,  78, 

135,  201 

Battle,  93,  219,  228,  233,  290 
Battlefields,  440 
Battleflags,   107 
Battle  of  the  Crater,  135 
Bayard,  215 
Beard,  55 
Beauregard,  General,  36, 135,  145, 

146 
Beaux,  285 


Beaver  dam  Falls,  304 

Bedford  City,  209,  270 

Bedford  County^  269 

Beef,  41 

"Belmead,"  199 

Bennet,  Mr.,  400,  405 

Bennet,  Mary,  400 

"Bertus"  (R.  E.  Lee,  Jr.),  177, 
374,  377 

Berkeley  County,  250 

Berkeleys,  The,  41 

Berry  ville,  102 

Beverly,  39 

Bible,  246 

Birely,  Mr.,  297 

Birthplace,    292 

Blair,  Colonel,  193 

Blair,  Francis  Preston,  27 

Blanket,  41,  68,  93,  103,  104,  in, 
118 

Blessings,  58 

Blockade,  104 

Blockaders,  65 

Bluecoats,  99 

Bluegrass,  39 

Blue  Ridge,  185,  269 

Boarding-school,    20 

Board  of  Trustees,  172,  179,  181, 
183,  185,  186,  208,  336,  435 

Boggs,  Misses,  393 

Boiling,  Miss  Mary  Tabb,  283, 
284 

Boiling,  G.  W.,  284,  289,  293 

Boiling,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  379 

"Bonaventure,"  394 

Books,  335,  336,  337 

Booksellers,  36 

Boston,  369 

Bouquets,  393 

Bower,"  "The,  250 

Bowie,  Mr.,  426 

Boydton,   140 

Bragg,  General,  146 

Branch  Bros.,  393 

Branch,  Melville,  393 

Branch,  Mrs.  Jas.  R.,  133 

Branch,  Mrs.  Thos.,  133 

Brander,  Mrs.,  291 

"Brandon,"  288,  290,  292,  302, 
377,  398,  401,  402,  403,  404 

Brandy  Station,  95,  115,  200 

Brantley,  Rev.  Mr.  and  daugh 
ter,  396 

Braxton,  Corbin,  167 

Braxton,  Mrs.  Mary,  169 

Braxtons,  The,  178 

Bravery,  218 

Bread,  41,  109,  133 


INDEX 


443 


Breckenridge,  Gen.  John  C.,  340 
"Bremo,"  139,  172,  178,  186,  192, 

193,    195,    196,    202,    206,   411, 

412 

Bricks,  340,  342 
Bride,   no,   285     287,    288,    289, 

290 

Brigade,  81,  87,  104,  119,  120,  201 
Brigadier,   34 
Brigand,  23 
Bristoe,  no 
Broaddus,  Dr.,  425 
Broad  Run,  no 
Brockenborough  Cottage,  321 
Brockenborough,  Judge  John  W., 

172,    179 

"Brook  Hill,"  169,  382,  389 
Brooks,  Captain,  426 
Broughton  Street,  395 
Brown,  Mrs.,  23 
Brown,  Mr.,  382,  422 
Brown,  Major  Campbell,  22 
Brown,  John,  22 
Brown's,  John,  Raid,  21 
"Brown  Roan,"  84 
Brownlow,  Miss,  392 
Brown  University,  13 
Brunswick,  54,  398 
Bryan  (steward),  85,  132,  143 
Buchanan,  273,  347 
Buckler,  Dr.  Thos.  H.,  412,    413, 

419,  425,   433 
Buffalo,  246 
Buffalo  Gap,  39 
Buford,  Captain,  270,  273 
Buildings,  184,  235,  262 
Bull  Run,  1 10 
Bunker  Hill,  108 
Burkeville,  145 
Burnside,  General,  85,  86,  87 
Burr,  Chauncey  E.,  225 
Burwell,  Miss,  358,  359 
Burwell,   Mr.,    177 
Burwell,  Robert,  393 
Burwells,  The,  270,  273 
Business,  55,  284 
Butler,  General,  117,  128 
Butler,  Lawrence,  333,  343 
Butter,  40,  114 
Buttermilk,  109,  134 

CABELL,  Mrs.,  238 
Cabell,  Dr.  and  Mrs.,  422 
Cabell,  Dr.,  4.26 

Cadet,    12,    13,    15,  17,  245,  253, 
255,    268,    298,  308,   315,   324, 

381 
Caesar,  215,  216,  316 


Caisson,  73 

California,  36 

Callahan's,    274 

Calvert,      Miss      (Mrs.      Richard 

Stuart),  356 
Cameron,   Andrew,    306,    428, 

429 

Cameron,  Dr.,  193 
Cameron,  Miss  Rose,  193 
Cameron,  Simon,  25,  27,  28 
Camp,   121,  206 
Campaign,  38,  48,  51,  52.  78,  83, 

102,    122,    123,    129,    172,    173, 

218,  219,  221,  259,  434 
Campbell,  John  Lyle,  226 
Campbell,  Mr.,  240 
Campbell,  Miss,  381 
Campbell,  Miss  Lucy,  383 
Canada,  309 
Canal,    136,    171,    173,   190,   201, 

346 

Cape  Charles,  322 
Capertons,  The,  277 
Capitol  Square,   216 
Capitulation,  150 
Capon,  418 
Cappahoosic,  408 
Capitalists,    236 
Captains,  316 
Captives,  59 
Captivity,  100,  117 
Carolinas,  50,  83,  145,  149,  227 
Carpet,  187,  201,  203,  336. 
Carriage,    203 
Carter,  Annette,  307 
Carter,  Chas.,  424 
Carter,  Chas.  Henry,  307,  349 
Carter,  Col.  Thos.  H.,  166,   167, 

168 

Carter,  Ella,  424,  427 
Carter,  Mrs.,  168 
Carter,  Mrs.  Admiral,  37 
Carter,  Mr.,  427 
Carter,  Mildred,  307,  424 
Carter,  Warrenton,  402 
Carter,  Warrington,  346 
Carter,  William,   114 
Carters,  The,  178 
Cartersville,   173,   174,    175,    176, 

177,    221 
Case,  174 
Caskie,  Mr.,  90 

Caskie,  Mrs.,  287,  290,  367,  422 
Caskie,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  321 
Catechism,  67 
Cats,  249 
Cause,  169,  171,  212,  231 


444 


INDEX 


Cavalcade,  107 

Cavalry,  50,  84,  93,  96,  99,  100, 
109,  no,  114,  115,  118,  124, 
137,  140,  146,  147,  150,  155, 
156,  259 

Cavalry,  Second,  19 

Cavalry,  Chief  of,  125 

Cavalryman,  98 

Cazenove,  Harriott,  355 

"Cedar  Grove,"  57,  355,  356,  368 

Cedar  Mountain,  75 

Celebration,  383 

Celibacy,  278 

Cemetery,  61,  390,  394,  398 

Central  Railroad,  41 

Chambliss,  Col.  John  R.,  119 

Chanal,  General  de,  154 

Chancellors  ville,  83,  93,  230,  233 

Change  of  base,  74 

"Chantilly,"  in 

Chapel,  262,  294,  331,  336 

Chapultepec,  5 

Character,  8,  212,  301,  438 

Charger,  184 

Charles  Street,  347 

Charleston,  54,  62,  398,  400,  403 

Charlotte  (N.  C.),  392 

Charlottesville,  39,  61,  120,  121, 

X47 

Chase,  Judge,  287,  306 
''Chatham,"  18,  57 
Cheat  Mountain,  39,  44,  45,  46, 

47,  48 

"Chericoke,"  167 
Cherrystone,  323,  328 
Chesapeake    &    Ohio   R.R.,    118, 

120,  203,  346 
Chestnuts,  The,  430 
Chickahominy  ,   83 
Chief  Justice  Marshall,  165 
Chief  of  Cavalry,  125 
Childe,    Edward   Lee,    211,    214, 


327,  328 
ilde,    E 


Childe,    Edward,     and    Blanche, 

369,  37°,  37i.383>425 
Children,  86,  167,  185,  243,  271, 

372,   416 

Chills,  177,  194,  195,  235 
Chivalry,  215 
Chouteau,  Pierre,  239 
Christian  Commission,  137 
Christianity,  101 
Christmas    58,  60,  87,   251,   252, 

258,   292,    294,    324,    332,    333, 

377 

Christmas  Day,  88 
Christ's  Church,   187 
Church,  136,  172,  284 


Church-going,  12 

Cincinnati,  221 

Circus,    275 

Citizen,  27,  86,  155,  162,  163,  183 

Civil  Engineering,   187 

Civilian,  245,  246 

Civil  War,  80,  180 

Clarke  County,  42,  102,  168,  393 

Clarke's  Mountain,  no 

Classes,  181,  329 

Clay  Street,  112 

Clayton,  Miss,  393 

Clothes,  50,  59,  113 

Clothing,  103,  104,  in,  118,  123, 
141 

'«  Clydale,"  55,  57 

Coast,  54,  56 

Cobb's  Island,  323 

Cocke,  Edward,  426 

Cocke,  Dr.  Chas.,  194 

Cocke,  Captain  Edmund  Ran 
dolph,  171,  185 

Cocke,  Mrs.  E.  R.,  171,  184,  185 

Cocke,  Preston,  185,  209 

Cocke,  Thos.,  174 

Cocke,  Mrs.,  174,  176,  195,  196, 
199,  201,  203 

Cocke,  Mrs.  Thos.,  186 

Cocke,  Miss  Mary,  177 

Cocke,  General,  238 

Cockes,  The,  176 

Cockspur  Island,  62 

Cold  Harbour,  73,  76,  83,  128 

Cole,  Colonel,  397,  398,  421 

Cole,  Rev.  Mr.,  136 

Coleman,  Mrs.,  321 

Colfax,  Mr.,  223 

College,  69,  70,  160,  172,  179,  187, 
188,  206,  210,  211,  234,  240, 
243,  254,  258,  260,  262,  267, 
280,  281,  283,  286,  294,  295, 
296,  298,  301,  304,  313,  314, 
324,  325.  331,  332,  335,  347, 
37°,  383,  384,  396«  404,  412, 
424,  429,  431,  434,  435 

College  Hotel,  383 

Colonelcy,  136 

Colours,  136 

Colquit,  General,  240 

Columbia,  392 

Combat,  89 

Commandant,  324 

Commander-in-Chief,  77,  144 

Commander-in-Chief  of  C.  S.  A., 
36 

Commanders,  71 

Command  of  United  States  Army 
offered  to  Col.  Robert  E.  Lee,  27 


INDEX 


445 


Commencement,    267,    314,    352, 

353»  S^0 

Commerce,  School  of,  369 
Commissary   Department    (C.    S. 

A.), .416 

Commission,  26,  27 
Commissioner,  299 
Committee,   180,  390 
Committee  on  Education,  208 
Committee  on  Public  Buildings, 

338 

Compton,  Mr.,  327 

Comrades,  176 

Concert,  366,  367,  368 

Conduct,  27 

Confederacy,  63,  70,  71,  103,  130, 
134,  422,  429 

Confederate,  20,  129,  135,  105, 
231,  232,  233,  388 

Confederate  Army,  34,  73,  165, 
234,  246 

Confederate  Cavalry,  124 

Confederate  Commissary  Depart 
ment,  416 

Confederate  Government,  34,  35, 

S2 

Confederate  Gray,  83 
Confederate   Navy,    156,    158 
Confederate   Service,    416 
Confederate  Soldiers,  160 
Confederate   States,    29,    35,    36, 

66,  75,  105,  144 
Confederate    States   ex-Secretary 

of  War,  340 
"Confeds.,"  315,  369 
Congress,     222,    337,    338,    396, 

414 

Conqueror,    155 
Conquest,  55 
Consideration,  184. 
Continent,   228 
Controversy,  220,  223,  225 
Convention,  Episcopal,  31 
Convention,    Virginia,    28,   351 
Convention   of   the   Teachers   of 

Virginia,  360 
Conversation,  229,  248,  315,  380, 

4i5 

Conversazione,  380 
Cook,  Cadet,  381 
Cooke,  Gen.  St.  George,  379 
Cookery,  205 
Cooper,  General,   291,  350,  414, 

420 

Cooper,  Hon.  Mr.,  244,  245 
Cooper,  Sam,  22 
Cooper,  Miss  Jennie,   291,  361 
Cooper,  Mrs.,  361 


Coosawhatchie,  54,  56,  60,  62,  63 
Corcoran,  W.  W.,  274,  367.  368 
Corley,  Colonel,  389,  390,  391, 

392.  394 

Corn,  174,  i?6.  J77.  I9I»  242,  3" 
Corn  and  Flour  Exchange,  347 
Corn-bread,  59 
Corn-meal,  40 
Corps,  15,  108,  136 
Corpus  Christi  College,  211      . 
Correspondence,  31,  103,  105,  \ 

188,  206,  219,  226,  313 
Cortinez,  23 
Cotton,  64 


Coulter,  Judge,  57 
Council  of  War,  7 


71 

Counsellor,  53 
Countermining,  135 
Country,  182 
Courier,  78 
Court,  287,  288,  309 
Court  House,  99 
Court  of  Appeals,  236 
Covington,  38,  274,  320 
Cow,  273,  310,  326,  424,  426,  427, 

428,  429,  430 
Cox,  General,  48 
Crater,  Battle  of,  135 
Critics,  316 

Crop,  161,  282,  284,  302,  328,  340 
Crow- scalps,  21 
Crutches,  196,  249,  311 
Culpeper,  95,  97,  100,  102 
Culpeper  Camp,  108 
Culpeper  Court  House,  136 
Culture,   210 
Cumberland    County,    171,    173, 

177 
Cumberland  Island,  60,  61,  397, 

398 

Cunningham,  Dr.,  389 
Currency,  Confederate,  170 
Curtains,  187,  202 
Custis,  G.  W.  P.,  20 
Custis,    Mr.,   89,    160,    223,    249, 

354,  368 
Custis,  Mrs.  George  Washington, 

14,  18,  364 
Custis,  Nellie,  333 
Custis,  Washington,  18 
Cyrus,  Miss  Eliza,  308 

DAINGERFIELD,  John  B.,  351 
Daingerfields,  The,  277,  422 
Dallam,  Edward,  253 
Dallam,  Mr.  364 
Dana,  Mr.  187 
Dance,  383 


446 


INDEX 


Dandridge,  Stephen,  250 
Danville,  250 

Danville  &  Southside  R.  R.,  145 
Davis,  President,  34,  35,  36,  52, 

53,  157,  165,  174,  220,  267,  272, 

287,    288,   304,   306,   307,   309, 

310,  312,  313,  401 
Davis,    Mrs.   Jefferson,    223,    309 
Davis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George,  400, 

401 

Davises,  The,  403 
Death  of  Mr.  Custis,  20 
Death  of  Mrs.  Custis,  18 
Debate    in    United    States    Sen 

ate,  27 

Debt,  192,  235,  257 
Deed,  90 

Defeat,  53,  75,  165,  438 
Deference,  350,  401 
"  Derwent,"   171,    174,    175,    191, 

192,  202 
Deserters,  135 
Despair,  121 
Despatch,  71 
Destitution,  91 
Devotion,  210,  218 
Devotion  to  Union,  26 
Dickens,  Mr.,  418 
Dignity,  405 
Disaster,  52,  64 
Discipline,  295 
Dissensions,  163 
Divine  Services,  105 
Dixie,  36 

Dixon,  Miss  Mary,  308 
Dobbin,  Mrs.,  422,  424, 
Doctor,  176,  379,    384,  399,  404, 

427,  440 
Documents,  247 
Donation,  334,  336 
Dredges,  63,  66 
Dress,  253 
Dry  Creek,  275 
Dubuque,  337 
Dudley,   President  of  Richmond 

&  York  River  R.  R.,  277 
Dungeness,  60,  61,  398 
Dunlop,  Mrs.,  291 
Dutch  Gap,  136 

35,  54,  205,  279 


EARLY,    General,    127,   131,   132, 

148,  172,  220 
Earthworks,  73 
Eastern  Shore,  243,  247,  255,  304, 

308,  312,  319 
"  Eastern  View, 
Easton,  247 


33 


•Eastville,  143,  323 

Echols,  General  John,  347 

Economy,  168,  282 

Editors,  51 

Education,  160,  181,  183,  191, 
210,  211,  280 

Educational  Association  of  Vir 
ginia,  359 

Educational  Society  of  Virginia, 
211 

Election,  181,  360 

Elk  River,  39 

Ellicott  City,  304,  349 

Elliott,  Bishop,  65 

Elliott,  Mrs.  390,  395 

Elliotts,  The,  240 

Ellis,  Colonel,  195,  196,  203 

Emancipation,  231,  232 

Emerson,   215 

Emigration,  163 

Emperor  of  Mexico,  163 

Enders,  Miss,  288 

Endowment,  180,  294 

Engineers,  19,  34,  154,  401 

England,  59,  84,  215,  231,  232, 
410 

English,  232,  306 

Englishman,  227,  232 

Enlistment,  81 

Eoff,  Captain,  197,  199 

Epaulets,  n 

Episcopal  Church,    23,   135,   248, 

„  335.  368,  419 
Episcopal  Convention,  313 
Episcopal  Theological  Seminary, 

334,  335 

Essex  County,  355 
Estate,  20,  21,  89,  170,  171,  192, 

236,   322,   323,   326,   327,   406, 

414, 

Etowa,  395 

Europe,  207,  215,  420 

Ewell,  General,  72,  73,  415 

Ewell,  Mrs.,  no 

Examination,  237,  254,  257,  301, 

3i3.   314,  352,  353.   358,   381, 

383,  412 

Example,  162,  165,  183 
Exchange,  231 
Exchange  Hotel,  365 
Excursions,  175,  187 
Executor,  89,  236,  322 
Executive  Mansion,  349 
Exercise,  13 
Expedition,  55 
Exposure,  140 
Eye-glasses,  258 


INDEX 


447 


FACULTY,  280,  295,  296,  300,  314, 
3iS.  33i,  335.  375.  385,  39^, 
434,  435 

Fairfax  Court  House,  32 

Fairfax,  Dr.  O.,  401,  411 

Fairfax,  Miss,  358,  359,  360,    401 

Family,  170 

Farm,  20,  21,  160,  165,  176,  205, 
235,  241,  266,  282,  344,  358 

Farmer,  161,  168,  278 

Fatigue,  in 

Fauquier  County,  32,  35,  41 

Federal  Army,  93,  128,  160,  172, 

379 

Federal  generals,  416 
Federal  officers,  159 
Federals,  52,  86,  233,  234 
Fernandina,  54,61 
Festivities,  333 

Fever,    177,  191,   278,  312,  313 
Field-battery,  38 
First  Cavalry,  25 
Fitzhugh,   Mrs.   A.   M.,   32,   349, 

350,  361,  414 
Fitzhugh,  Wm.,  18,  350 
Fitzhughs,  The,  57 
Five  Forks,  147 
Fleet,  54,  55,  62 
Florida,  10,  52,  60,  61,  390,  394, 

395,  396,  398,  434 
Floyd,  General,  39,  48,  51 
Fluvanna,  176,  177 
Foley  (sculptor),  216 
Forage,  118,  120,  130 
Fort  Carroll,  10 
Fort  Fisher,  144 
Fort  Hamilton,  3,  6,  7 
Fort  Jackson,  64 
Fort  Lafayette,  57,  117 
Fort  Mason,  24 

Fort  Monroe,  22,  99,  109,  267 
Fort  Moultrie,  62 
Fort  Pulaski,  62,  63,  66 
Fort  Stedman,  146 
Fort  Wade,  416 
Fort  Warren,  57 
Fortifications,  6,  10 
Furlough,  74,  137 
Furniture,    197,    199,    201,    202, 

203,  286,  335,  336,  337 
France,  383 

Franklin  Institute,  382 
Franklin  Street,  157 
Fredericksburg,    59,    72,    80,    82, 

83,  84,  85,  86,  87,  88,  92,  230, 

264^352,  353,  354,  356,  413 
Frederick  City,  298 
Freedom,  90 


French,  425 

French  language,  133 

French  officer,  93,  154 

French  soldier,  133 

Friends,  187,  247,  275,  292,  302 

Fry,  Mr.,  22,  288 

GALT,  Miss  Frances,  176,  194 

Garden,  56,  61,  310,  311 

Gardner,  Mr.,  393 

Garnett,  Dr.  C.  S.,  250 

Garnett,  General,  36,  38 

Garrett,  John  W.,  347 

Gauley  River,  43 

Gazette,  Alexandria,  361 

Generation,   210 

Genius,  149,  212 

Gentility,   253 

George,   Mrs  Sam   ("Ella"),  349 

Georgetown  Heights,  349 

Georgia,  50,  52,  60,  61,  83,  149, 

„  227,  434 

Germans,  306 

German  Universities,  374 

Gestures,  315 

Gettysburg,  83,  97    101,  102,  103, 

115,  4i5 
Giles,  Miss,  288 
Gilliam,  Mr.,  379 
Gilliams,  The,  176 
Gilmer,  General,  390,  393,  394 
Gilmer,  Mrs.,  390,  394 
Girls,  201 
Glenns,  The,  308 
Gloucester,  355 
Gloucester  County,  168,  407 
Gloves,  113,  141 
Goldsborough,     Admiral     Louis, 

422 
Goldsborough,  Geo.  and  Eleanor, 

240,    241,   247,   249,    252,    253, 

255,  323 

Goldsborough,  John,  32 
Goldsborough,  Mrs.,  418 
Goldsboroughs,  The,  304 
Good-bye,  153,  161 
Goodness,  212 
"Goodwood,"  307,  308,  349,  413, 

414,  424 
Gordon,    General   John   B.,    146, 

147,  151,  152,  210,  376 
Gordon,  Mrs.  J.  B.,  377 
Gordon,  Mr.,  302 
Gordon,  Mrs.,  390 
Gordons,  The,  395 
Gordons ville,  75 
Goshen,  203,  208,  274,  319,  320, 

346,  355,  363.  387,  4i8,  422 


448 


INDEX 


Government  of  United  States, 
414 

Governor  of  Virginia,  46 

Grace  Church  Sewing  Society,  302 

"Grace  Darling,"   5,  6,   n,  82 

Grace  Episcopal  Church,  352,  435 

Graduates,  281 

Grady,  Captain,  256 

Grady,  Mrs.,  249,  256 

Grahame,  Dr.,  432 

Grandson,   60,  341 

Granite,  81 

Grant,  General,  121,  122,  123, 
124,  127,  128,  129,  130,  136, 
144,  146,  147,  151,  152,  164, 
174,  175,  219,  261,  292,  334, 

349 

Gratiot,  Julia,  239 
Gratitude,  182,  283 
Grave,  81,  385 
Graves,  Mr.,  409 
Graves,  W.,  381 
Graveyard,  81,  350 
Greek,  314,  374 

Green,  General  Nathaniel,  60,  61 
Green,  Lieutenant,  22 
Green,  Mr.,  189,  418 
Green,  Mrs.,  61 
Greenbrier  County,  49 
Greenbrier  River,  39 
Greenbrier         White         Sulphur 

Springs,    274 
Green  Mountain,  176 
Greensboro,  156,  157,  161 
Greenville,  186 
Grubb  &  Williams,  333 
Gun,  21,  63,  64,  78,  79,  86 
Gunboats,  62,  64,  66 

HABERSHAM,  Mrs.,  390 

Hagerstown,  101 

Hamilton's  Crossing,  85 

"Hampton,"  366 

Hampton,    General    Wade,    140, 

Hanover  County,  97,  161 
Harding,  Colonel,  360 
Hardships,  87,  103,  150,  231 
Harmony,   163,   165 
Harper's  Ferry,  22,  23 
Harris,  Mr.,   239 
Harris,  Professor,  316,  317 
Harrison,   George,   401,   402,   404 
Harrison,    Miss    Belle,    186,    188, 

277,  328,  401,  403,  430 
Harrison,  Miss  Gulie,  402,  403 
Harrison,   Miss   Isabella   Ritchie, 

404 


Harrison,  JMrs.,  327,  401 
Harrison,  Wm.,  401,  403,  404 
"Harrison  Cottage,"  274 
Harrison's  Landing,  74 
Harrisons,    The,    321,    327,   329, 

401 

Harvest,  278,  302,  311 
Haskell,  Colonel  Alexander,  392 
Hatcher's  Run,  83 
Havana,  220 
Haversacks,  210 

Haxall,  Miss  Charlotte,  313,  424 
Haxall,  Misses,   288 
Haxalls,  The,  277 
Hays  Creek  Valley,  186 
Headquarters,  82 
Healing  Springs,    278,    279,   313, 

321,  425,  426,  430,  432 
Health,  137,  140,  239,  281,  302, 

384,  397,  420,  427 
Heart,  182 
Heath,  Mrs.,  422 
Hector,  212 

Henderson,  Captain,  360 
Heninberger,  Miss  Ella,  381,  383 
Henry  County,  250 
Herald,  New  York,  351 
Herbert,  General,  68 
Hero,  212,  332,  438 
Heth,  Mrs.,  110 
"Hickory  Hill,"  97,   98,  99,  100, 

101,  161,  287,  290,  292,  302 
Hill,  B.  H.,  377 
Hill,  General  A.  P.,  106,  107,  127, 

136,  379.  439 
Hill,  Jimmy,  36 
Historical  Society  of  Virginia, 

.XS7 

History,  102,  219,  221,  246 

History  of  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac,  150 

Hodgson,  Mr.,  390 

Hoke,  General,  333 

Holidays,  20 

Hollanders,  306 

Hollywood,  361 

Home,  244 

Home  Journal,  405 

Homer,  213 

Homer's  Iliad,  translation  of,  211, 
214 

Honour,  182 

Hooker,  General,  92,  93,  95 

Hope,  Mr.,  391 

Hopkins,  Captain,  250 

Horse  Artillery,  201 

Horses,  74,  118,  157,  161 

Hospitality,  167,  184 


INDEX 


449 


Hospitals,    134 

Hostage,  117 

Hostilities,  163,  269 

Hot  Springs,  42,  44,  46,  48,  49, 
53,  278,  279,  313,  318,  319,  320, 
321,  322,  324,  367,  420,  421, 
423,  432,  433,  435 

House,  278,  282,  285,  305,  309, 
31°,  332,  339.  340,  34L  342, 
343.  344,  355.  357.  358,  4o6, 
407 

House    of    Representatives,    338 

Household,  293 

Houston,  Dr.,  411,  426 

Howard,  Charles,  304 

Howe,  Captain,  22 

Howell,  Mrs.,  288 

Hudson  River,  420 

Huger,  General,  36 

Humour,  91 

Hunger,  141 

Hunter,    General,    172,    204,    234 

Huntersville,  38,  39 

Huntsville,  428 

Hustings  Court,  223 

Huston,  Dr.,  389 

Huttonsville,  39,  46 

Hymn,  81,  213 

ILIAD,  211,  212,  214 
Immigrants,  306 
Impeachment,  313 
Imprisonment,  268 
Inauguration,  187 
Independence,   59,   66,    113,    131, 

144,  iS1 
Indictment,     20,     174,     175,    177, 

230 

Infantry,  109,  137,  140,  147 
Infantry,  incomparable,  106,  150 
Influence,  138,  162,  165,  281,  301 
Ingleside,  169 
Inspection,  107 
Institute,  240,  329 
Institution,    180,    245,    280,    281, 

294,  334,  335,  336,  360,  369 
Instruction,   211 
Insurance     Co.,     Southern     Life, 

376,  377 
Insurgents,  22 
Intrenchments,  135,  136 
Interview,  226,  351 
Invaders,  39 
Invalid,  196,  380 
Investment,  294 
Invitation,  171,  210,  399 
Iowa,  321 
Irish   (Federal)   soldier,   158 


Irishman,  132,  159, 
Irishwoman,  351 
Islands,  57 

JACKSON,  General  (of  Georgia),  39 
Jackson,     "Stonewall,"     71,     72, 
73.  75.  76,  77.  93.94,  95,  "4, 
216,  234,  272,  415 

ackson's  Division,  74 

acksonville,  398 

ail,  300 

ames  River,  35,  53,  74,  83,    93, 
129,    130,    136,    145,    146,    155, 
194,  232,  271,  292,  401,  405 
James  River  Canal,  173,  195,  202 
Janney,  John,  28, 351 
Java,   The,  369 

efferson  Barracks,  19 
Jenifer,  Mr.,  36 
~ohn  Brown's  Raid,  21 

ohns,  Bishop,  31,  350,  414 
^.ohns,  John,  425 
Johnson,  General  Edward,  72 
Johnson,  Hon.  Reverdy,  27,  174, 

J75 

Johnson,  Mr.,  289,  306 
Johnson,  President,  164,  228,  313, 

Johnston,  Col.  Wm.  Preston,  254, 
287,   315,   317.    371.   38°,   428, 
432.  434 
Johnston,  Gen.  Albert  Sidney,  36, 

254,  272 
Johnston,  .Gen.  Joseph  £.,71,  73, 

145,  156,  173,  390 
Johnston,  Miss  Maggie,  380,  383 
Johnston,   Mrs.    (General),  394 
Jones,  Hon.  Geo.  W.,  337 
"ones,  Hon.  Thos.  Lawrence,  338 
ones,  Joe,  391 

ones,  Miss  Ann  Upshur,  335 
ones,  Miss   Mary,  304,  358,  359, 


366,  367 
Jones,  Mrs.,  39 
Jones,  Rev.  Carter,  267 


Jones,  Rev.  J.  W.,  94,    105,  155, 

172,   425,   434 
Jordan,  Miss  Mattie,  193 
Jourdan,  Miss  Mollie,  430 

oynes,  Prof.  E.  S.,  180,  281,  301 

ump  Mountain,  186 
Jury,  164,  174 
Justice,  300 

KANAWHA,  39,  43 
Kanawha  River,  52 
Kanawha  Valley,  38,  48 
Kennaway,  Mr.,  227,  228 
Kennon,  Mrs.,  349 


45° 


INDEX 


Kennon,  Mrs.  Britannia,  190 

Kennon,  Wm.,  379 

Kennons,  The,  176 

Kentucky,  64,  185,  321,  340,  382, 

422 

Kepler,  Mr.,  364 
Kerr,  Chas.,  249 
King,  James 

King  George  County,  55,  88,  356 
King  William  Battery,  166 
King  William  County,  160,  235, 

250,  406 

"Kinloch,''  33,  35,  41,  44,  54 
Kirkland,  Miss,  359 
Kirkland,  Mrs.,  134 
Kirkpatrick,  Dr.,  317 
Kirkpatrick,  Mrs.,  393 
Knoxville,  145 

LADY,  84,  88,  302,  384,  390 

Lady  of  the  Lake,  10 

Language,  314 

Latin,  14,  316 

Lawton,  General,  390,  393,  394, 
421 

Lawton,  Corinne,  394 

Lawton,  Miss,  390 

Lawton,  Mrs.,  395 

Lawtons,  The,  398 

Leader,  138 

"Leader  of  the  herd,"  369 

Learning,  210 

Leary,  Wm.  B.,  415,  417 

Lectures,   249 

Lee,  Agnes,  56,  57,  65,  83,  87,  91 
147,  174,  176,  178,  188,  192, 
193,  195,  197,  199,  202,  206, 
208,  242,  248,  255,  274,  277, 
278,  293,  304,  307,  309,  312, 
319,  320,  322,  323,  327,  329, 
345,  348,  352,  360,  362,  380, 
381,  383,  385,  387,  388,  389, 
390,  391,  394,  395,  396,  397, 
398,  400,  401,  402,  403,  405, 
411,  412,  414,  418,  425,  426, 
429,  432,  440 

Lee,  Annie,  56,  65,  79,  80,  81,  118, 

Lee,  Captain,  10 

242,  287,  384,  385,  386,  390 

Lee,   Cassius   P.,   350,   355,   387, 

_   396.  398,  4i4,  4i5>  4i8 

Lee,  Cazenove,  415 

Lee,  Charles  Carter,  114,  155,  172, 

r    175.   258,  303 

Lee,  Charlotte,  67,  117 

Lee,  Col.  R.  E.,  6,  19,  22,  24,  25 

Lee,  Custis,  15,  16,  17,  22,  30,  31, 
32,  68,  79,  117,  134,  165,  169, 


Lee,  Custis,  continued — 

171,    173,    174,    176,    185,  186, 

187,    195,    202,    207,    209,  234, 

239,    240,    241,    246,    249,  259, 

274,    277,   283,    286,    287,  288, 

290,   292,   308,    313,   319,  320, 

323,   324,   327,    329,   334,  340, 

343.   346,  349.    352,   353.  354. 

358,   359.   36o,    363,   373,  374, 

381,    384,    385,    386,   391,  394, 

395.    396.    397.    399.    403,  411, 

415,    426,   427,   428,   430,  432, 
434,  437 

Lee,  Dan,  159,  160 
Lee,  Edwin  Grey,  265,  431 

Lee,  Fitz.,  17,  113,  119,  120,  141, 

15I.    iSS.    J77.     259,    290,  350, 
,   35i.  352,  355.  361.  367 
Lee,  Fitzhugh,  35,  38,  40,  43,  45, 

50,     58,    59,    60,     87,    96,  97, 

100,    101,    in,    139,    140,  176, 

177,  235,    237,  241,  246,  254, 

258,  278,  282,  283,  287,  288, 

290,  292,  302,  303,  305,  308, 

309,  312,  313,  314,  318,  322, 

326,  333,  339,  341,  343.  344, 
345.   358,  363.  364,  373.  377, 
383,   389,  399,  403,  424,  426, 
429,  433 

Lee,  Mrs.  Fitzhugh  ("Tabb"), 
318,  319,  323,  327,  328,  329, 
33°,  340,  343,  346,  354,  359, 
363.  366,  371,  377,  378,  379, 
383,  384,  399,  403,  411,  424, 
426,  427 

Lee,  Gen.  Harry,  60,  404 

Lee,  Henry  Carter,  113 

Lee,  John,  77,  161 

Lee,  John  Mason,  113 

Lee,  Mary,  22,  29,  31,  32,  33,  39, 
41,  43,  44,  48,  49.  5°.  53.  57,  58, 
60,  63,  64,  66,  68,  80,  81,  85, 
114,  198,  304,  307,  309,  312, 

327,  329,    346,    349,    361,    362, 
367.   385.   386,    391,    395,   397. 
399,  403,  432 

Lee,  Mildred  ("Life")  41,  50,  55, 
87,  88,  133,  134,  139,  174, 
177,  192,  197,  207,  209,  242, 
243,  247,  249,  252,  255,  257, 
260,  265,  269,  270,  271,  286, 
288,  290,  293,  303,  304,  307, 
308,  311,  313,  319,  320,  321, 
322,  323,  327,  328,  329,  345, 
349.  358,  36o.  362,  367,  378, 
379.  380,  384,  386,  391,  394, 
397,  399,  403,  405,  410,  425, 
403,  405,  410,  425,  429,  430,  432 


INDEX 


45 1 


Lee,  Gen.  Robert  E.,  6,  10,  19,  22, 
24,  25,  26,  28,  29,  32,  33,  34, 
52,  63,  66,  69,  71,  73,  74,  75, 
76,  77,  78,  80,  81,  82,  86,  88, 

93.  94,  95,   I05,  Io6>  I07,  "5» 

116,  118,  119,  124,  125,  126, 
127,  129,  130,  132,  134,  135, 
136,  137,  138,  140,  144,  148, 
149,  150,  152,  153,  154,  155, 
156,  157,  158,  159,  166,  167, 
168,  171,  173,  174,  182,  183, 

198,  204,  212,  215,  216,  226, 
227,  229,  232,  234,  244,  245, 
266,  267,  271,  272,  274,  276, 
281,  284,  287,  288,  301,  315, 
316,  324,  329,  330,  332,  334, 
346,  347,  349,  351,  352>  364, 
36$,  368,  372,  373,  376,  391. 
394,  397,  400,  405,  408,  409, 
410,  415,  416,  435;,  436,  438 

Lee,    Gen.    Robert    E.,    Personal 

Reminiscences  of,  172,  434 
Lee,   Gen.   W.   H.   P.,  38,  81,  96, 

117,  161,  250,  286,  293 

Lee,  R.  E.,  26,  27,  28,  29,  32,  33, 
34,  41,  42,  43,  44,  46,  47.  49,  51, 

52»  54,  55,  56»  57.  58»  6o>  6l,  62, 
64,  65,  66,  67,  68,  72,  88,  93 

Lee,  Mrs. Robert  E.,  134,  170,  245, 
269,  274,  291,  320,  325,  336, 
337,  338 

Lee,  Robert  E.,  Jr.,  31,  39,  43,  49, 
50,  58,  61,  68,  75,  77,  79,  87, 
114,  119,  120,  139,  175,  177, 
186,  187,  193,  194,  195,  197, 

199,  2OI,     206,      249,     250,     253, 
254,     255,     26l,     286,     288,     290, 
291,     292,     304,     309,     312,     314, 

319,  323,  326,  328,  329,  333, 
345,  354,  359,  361,  363,  364, 
379.  383»  384,  399>  4o8,  411, 
424,  429,  432 

Lee,  Mrs.,  R.  E.,  Jr.,  309 

Lee,  Mrs.  S.  P.,  265 

Lee,  Mrs.  S.  S.  ("Nannie"),  34, 
350,  361,  414,  419 

Lee,  Stephen  D.,  76 

Lee,  Sydney  Smith,  4,  23,  25,  31, 
156,  244,  258,  328,  350,  351, 

T   352,353.356,  361,  362 

Lee,  Mrs.  W.  H.  P.,    365 

Leeds,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  428 

Legacies,  192,  236 

Legislature,  163 

Legislature  of  Virginia,  208 

Leigh,  Mrs.  Chapman,  186 

Lemmon,  George,  40 

Lemmon,  Mrs.,  422 


Lent,  317 

Letcher,  Governor  John,  47,  163, 
234,  267 

Letcher  Mrs.,  114,  266 

Letcher,  Virginia  Lee  and  Fannei, 
266 

Letchers,  The,  393 

Letters,  246,  247,  380 

Le  Verts,  The,  430 

Lewis,  John,  323 

Lewis,  Lawrence,  333 

Lewis,  Mrs.  Lorenzo,  42 

Lewisburg,  38,  49 

Lexington,  20,  21,  27,  83,  148, 
179,  180,  182,  183,  184, 
192,  194, 
206,  208, 
232,  234, 
244,  245, 


172, 

185,  186,  187,  191, 

196,  201,  203,  204, 

209,  214,  223,  227, 

237,  238,  240,  242, 


251, 
273. 
292, 

3I2> 

325, 
347, 
357, 


255,    257,    26i, 
277,    278,    279, 
3°4, 


264,  266, 
285,  290, 
3IQ, 


294,    298,   304,    30* 
314,    317,   318,   320,   324, 
329,   33°,    332,   336»    346, 
348,   351,   352,   354,    355, 
360,    363,    364,    366,    367, 
368,   369,    371,   374,   377,   381, 
382,   383,   384,   386,   389,   390, 
396,   399,   401,   402,   403,   404, 
405,    410,    411,   412,   414,    418, 
419,    421,    423,   424,   426,   427, 
428,    429,    431,    432,    433 
Lexington  Hotel,  186,  187 
Leyburn,  Rev.  G.  W.,  210 
Leyburn,  Mr.,  426 
Liberty,  209,  270,  272 
Liberty  Hall  Academy,  180 
Library,  180 

Lieutenant-colonelcy,    19 
"Life"    (Mildred   Lee),    41 

J33,    139,    J77,     195,    202 

302,  345,  384 

Life  (of  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee),  246 
"Light  Horse  Harry,"  368,  404 
Lime,  257,  282,  305 
Lincoln,  President, 
Lines,  71 
Lippett,  Miss  Laura,  208 
Lippitt,  Mrs.,  4 
Literature,  248,  382 
Liverpool,  242,  369 
Lomaxes,  The,  425 
London  Standard,  149 
Long,  General,  34,  115,   121,  126, 

137,  !5°.  152,  i54,  154,  17° 
Long,  Prof.  George,  214,  216 
Longstreet,  General,  76,  127,  268, 

416 


112, 
247, 


27,  233 


452 


INDEX 


Longstreet,  Mrs.,  269 

Loom,  112 

Loring,  General,  39,  46,  48 

Lome,  Marquis  of,  244 

Loudoun,  104,  108 

Louisburg,  193 

Louisiana,  182 

Love,  138,  210,  247,  276,  289 

Lowe,  Andrew,  390,  393,  395,  398 

"Lower  Brandon,"  401,  404 

Loyalty,  26,  277 

"Lucy  Long,"  84,  249,  250,  251, 

264,    266,    270,    271,    272,    357, 

371,  411,  430 
Lumber,  340,  342 
Lyle,  Colonel,  360 
Lynchburg,    145,    156,    157,    161, 

173,    190,    199,    202,    203,    238, 

298,   3J3>   346,   353.   354,   355, 
387,  411,  418 
"Lynwood,"  253,  349 

MACFARLAND,  Mr.,  175,  411 
Machinery,  160 
Mackay,  Messrs.,  395 
Macmillan's  Magazine,  130 
Madison,  Dr.,  185,  188,  189,  399, 

437 

Maffitt's  Channel,  62 
Magnanimity,  53,  438 
Magruder,  General,  71 
Mahone,  General,  136,  288,  289, 

293 

Mahone,  Mrs.,  293 
Maize,  Mrs.,  422 
Malaria,  191 
Manassas,  33,  37,  75,  76,  83,  103, 

no,  230,  416 
Manchester,  160 
Manners,  17,  185 
Manoeuvres,   75,  77 
Mansion,  170 

"Mansion  House,"  350,  362,  414 
Manumission,  89,  90,  223 
Marcus  Aurelius,  Thoughts  of, 
Marines,  22 
"Markie"    (Mrs.    Martha    Custis 

Williams),    37,    40,    366,    367, 

403,  405,  406 
Marriage,  207,  302,  330 
"Marse  Bob,"  124,  276 
Marshall,  Charles,  118,  138,  165 
Marshall,  Chief  Justice,  165,  435 
Marshall,  Judge  and  Mrs.,  5 
Marshall,  Louis,  77 
Marshall,  Mrs.  Anne,  25 
Marshalls,  The,  308 
Marshes,  63,  64,  66 


215 


Maryland,    131,    132,    220,    243, 

247,  250,  304,  307,  312,  319,  416 
Mason,  Captain,  76 
Mason,  Rev.  Mr.,  422 
Mason,  Senator,  J,  M.,  414 
Matrimony,  283,  286 
May,  Capt.  James,  337 
Mayes,  Miss,  368 
McCabe,  W.  Gordon,  124,  135 
McCaw,  Dr.,  389 
McClellan,  General,  6,  71,  73,  74, 

230,  292,  415,  416 
McCullogh,  General,  68 
McDonald,  Wm.  M.,  102 
McDonough  School,  428 
McDowell,  General,  72,  73 
McElwee,  Mrs.,  248,  253 
Mclntosh,  General,  68 
McKim,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  23 
McKims,  The,  308 
McKinley,  President,  338 
McLaughlin,  Judge,  347 
McLaws,  General,  393 
Meade,  Bishop,  18,  31,  67,  435 
Meade,    General,    103,    104,    no, 

115,  116,  118,  154 
Meade,  Miss  Susan,  382 
Measles,  41,  42,  195 
Mechanicsville,  415 
Medicine,  134,  238,  325,  326,  345, 

422,  437,  440 
Medicine,  School  of,  370 
Melville,  Miss,  379 
Memoirs,  365 
Memoirs  of  the  War  of  '76  in  the 

Southern  States,  368,  398 
Memoirs,  Grant's,  128 
Mercer,  Douglas,  40 
Mexican  War,  3 

Mexico,  5,  8,  23,  167,  220,  221,  269 
Mexico,  Emperor  of,  163 
"Middle  Brandon,"  404 
Middle  Mountain,  38 
Middleton,  Mr.,   432 
Milboro,  38,  42,  422 
Military  Academy,  n,  164,  165 
Military  Commissioner,  300 
Militia,  108 
Milroy,  General,  72 
Mine,  135 
Minis,  Mr.,  394 
Minor,  Professor,  211 
Mississippi  River,  6,  157 
Mobile,   276 
Mocking-birds,  293 
Molestation,  164 
Money,   160,    187 
Monongahela  River,  39 


INDEX 


453 


Monroe,  Col.  Grier,  267 
Monterey,  38,  39 
Montgomery,  34 
Monument,  80,  148,  242,  390,  391, 

392 

Moorman,  Mr.,  381 
Morgan,  Gen.  John,  134 
Motley,    Minister    (to    England), 

Motto,  305 

Mt.  Vernon,  29,  59,  336,  354 
Mountaineers,   204 
Mountains,  248 
Mud,  44,  86 
Mule,  257,  282,  311 
Mumps,  373 
Munitions,  130,  144 
Murdock,  Mrs.,  402 
Musket,  107,  150,  154 
Mustang  pony,  5 
Myers,  Mrs.,  240,  422 
"My  Maryland,"  393 
"Myrtle  Grove,"  249 

"NANNIE"  (Mrs.  S.  S.  Lee),  32,34 

Napoleon,  316 

Narrative,  219 

Narrows,  6 

National  Cemeteries,  396 

National  Museums,  337 

Natural  Bridge,  240,  273 

Neale,  Hamilton  S.,  323,  326,  327, 

328 

Negro,  20,  57,  65, 168,  231,  299, 416 
Nelson,  Mrs.,  203 
Nelson,  Professor,  203,  372 
Neuralgia,  399,  424 
Neutrality,  232 
New  Berne,  68 
Newcastle,  166,  169 
New  Kent  County,  161,  250 
New  Market,  234 
New  Orleans,  269,  367,  390,  428 
Newspapers,  416 
New  Year,  377,  381 
New  York,  64,  207,  267,  293,  309, 

314,334,346,368,376 
New  York  Herald,  351 
Nightingale,  Mr.,  60,  61,  398 
Ninth  Virginia  Cavalry,  81 
Nobleman  (English),  170 
Norfolk,    31,    68,    164,    174,    207, 

208,    209,    277,   323,   381,   386, 

398>  399,  4°°,  401,  402,  403 
Norris,  Mrs.  Richard,  256 
North,    121,    224,    225,    228,    229 

230,  231 
Northampton,  143 


Northampton  County,  322,  323 

North  Anna  River,  127,  128 

North  Carolina,  64,  68,  75,  80, 
87  122,  130,  131,  146,  333,  379 

Northerners,  232 

Northern  Neck,  86 

Northern  papers,  135 

Northern  States,  198 

Northern  Virginia,  Army  of,  73, 
75,  77,  91,  93,  95,  105,  106,  no, 
115,  123,  124,  125,  126,  128, 
129,  138,  148,  149,  150,  153, 
154,  164,  165,  166,  175,  218, 
250,  265,  272,  348,  379,  391, 

397 

North  River,  208 
"North  Wales,"  99 
Norvel,  Miss,  75 
Norwood,  379 
Nottingham,  Mrs.,  143 
Novels,  248 

"OAKLAND,"  185,  196 

"Oakland,"  171,  174 

Oath,  £87 

Oats,  305 

Officer,  91,  94,  100,  105,  106,  121, 

J58'  J75>  20I>  218,  250,  259 
Ohio  River,  52 
Old  Dominion,  52 
Old  Guard,  225 
"Old  Jack,"  81 
Old  Point,  22 

Old  Sweet  Springs,  276,  302 
Oliver,  Dr.,  306 
Olives,  6 1 
Operations,  37,  51,  52,  54,  66,  75, 

IO8,    121,     129,    154,    219,    22O 

Opinion,    163 

Orange,  61,  83,  264,  398 

Orange  and  Alexandria  R.R.,  no 

Orange  County,  75 

Orange  Court  House,  82,  109,  200 

Orange-grove,  61 

Orange- tree,  61,  65 

Ordinance  of  Secession,  26,  28 

Ordway,   Lieut. -Col.   Albert,    173 

Otter,  Peaks  of,  269,  270,  271 

Ould,  Judge,  287 

Quid,  Mrs.,  383 

Outposts,   119 

Ovation,  347,  350 

Overcoat,  68,  104,  in 

Owens,  Mr.,  394 

Owens,  Mrs.,  390 

Oxen,  340 

Oxford,  2ii 

Oysters,  209,  380,  381 


454 


INDEX 


PACKARD,  Rev.  Dr.,  350 

Page,  Mrs.,  402 

Page,  Rev.  Chas.,  382 

Page,  Richard,  402 

Pageant,    106 

Pains,  187 

Painter,  424 

Paintings,  354 

Palatka,  397,  398 

"Pampatike,"   161,   166,  167 

Pamunkey  River,  6,  66,  90, 
99,  166,  169,  190,  261,  310, 
312,  340,  359,  360,  404,  406, 
419 

Papers,  44,  51,  135 

Pans,  211,  327,  328,  419 

Pardon,  164 

Parole,  157,  164,  165 

Parties,  253 

Passport,   173 

Patapsco  Institute,  255 

Patapsco  River,  10 

Patent  Office,  337,  338 

Patrick,  General,  173 

Patriotism,  106,  270 

Patriots,  22$ 

Paxton,  Major,  250 

Pay,  30 

Peabody,  George,  366,  367,  368, 

370,  383 

Peabody  Institute,  370 
Peace,  59,  163,  165,  181 
Peaks  of  Otter,  269,  270,  271 
Peale  (artist),  354 
Peebles,  Mrs.,  291 
Pegram,  Wm.  Johnson,  124 
Pemberton,    171 
Pendleton,  Colonel  Edmund,  273, 

347 
Pendleton,  General,  151,  152,  200, 

265 
Pendleton,  Miss  Mary,  274,  276, 

382 

Pendleton,  Misses,  381 
Pendleton,  Mrs.,  273 
Pendleton,  Rev.  Dr.,  298 
Peninsula,  71,  72 
Pennsylvania,  83 
Perrin,  Captain,  408 
"  Personal  Reminiscences  of  Gen. 

R.  E.  Lee,"  105,  172,  434 
Peter,   George  Washington,   257, 

349.  4i3 

Peter,  Mrs.  Washington,  312 
Peter,  Miss  Helen,  314 
Peter,  "Markie,"  42? 
Peters,  The 
Peterkin,  Bishop,  200 


Petersburg,  83,  124,  129,  130,  132, 
133-  i34,  139.  MS.  146,  148, 
149,  154,  219,  278,  284,  285, 
286,  288,  290,  291,  292,  293, 

364,377,  379 
Petition,  396 
Pets,  249 
Peyton,  Mr.,  363 
Peyton,  Miss,  352,  354 
Pharaoh,  31 
Philadelphia,  218,  2« 
Phillips,  Dr.,  422 
Phillips,  Rev.  Mr.,  409 
Phosphates,  340 
Photograph,    198,   206,   207,   208, 

353,  354,  37°,  4°5 
Physician,  384,  385,  399,  413,  436, 

T,-438 

Piano,  197,  203 

Picture,  304,  354 

Pictures  and  Plate  of  Mt.  Vernon, 

29 

Pillage,    57 
Pillagers,  88 

Pinckney,  Mrs.  Thos.,  389 
Piping  Tree,  166 
Plantation,  20,  57,  166,  232 
Plate,  336 
Plate  and  pictures  of  Mt.  Vernon, 

29 

Platt,  Rev.  Mr.,  135 
Poague,  Captain,  78 
Pocahontas  County,  38 
Podestad,    Mrs.,    349,    418,    424, 

427,  429 

Podestad,  Mr.,  427 
Poem,  212,  213 
Poet,  211,  215,  439 
Poetess,  203 
Politics,  268,  316 
Pollard,  E.  A.,  246 
Pomeroy,  Brick,  389 
Pontoons,  109,  136 
Pony,  5 
Poole,  F.,  370 
Poor,  Major,  308 
Pope,  General,  77 
Portrait,  19,  365,  366,  367,  368 
Port  Royal  Harbor,  55 
Posterity,  219 
Potomac     River,     79,     85,     101, 

104,   108,   in,    131,    244,    350, 

356 
Potomac,  Army  of,  121,  122,  126, 

128,  130,  261 

Potomac,  History  of  Army  of,  150 
Powder,  146 
Powell,  Mr.,  54 


INDEX 


455 


Powhatan  County,  155,  175,  176, 
181,  303 

"Powhattie"  (Mildred  Lee,  daugh 
ter  of  Charles  Carter  Lee),  303, 

3°7 

Pratt,  Mrs.,  369 
Prayer,  37,  105,  330 
Presbyterian  Church,  248,  310 
Present,  285 
Preserves,  204 

Presidency,  172,  179,  181,  210,  280 
President,  66,  73,  181,  182,  184, 

187,    237,    280,    294,    295,    296, 

3OI»   33*>   332,    334,   335,   369, 

370 
President  Davis,    103,    105,    121, 

122,  133,  156,  157,  169 
President  of  Richmond  Council, 

116 

President  of  United  States,  181, 
^  215,334,396 
President  s  House,  294 
Preston,  Frank,  185,  360,  374 
Preston,   Mrs.   Margaret  J.,    185, 

203 

Preston,  Robert,  185,  325,  430 
Preston,  T.  L.,  185,  262,  325,  374 
Price,  General,  68 
Price,  Mr.,  279,  418 
Prince  George  County,  349 
Prison,  117,  120,  231 
Prisoner,   22,  47,   109,   147,   155, 

173,  224,  230,  231 
Private,  70,  71,  81 
Proclamation,  35,  164,  181 
Profession,  160 
Professor,  68,  180,  187,  245,  280, 

281,    294,    296,    298,    301,   335, 

369,372,374,382 
Promotion,  81 
Property,  327,  396 
Prosperity,  211,  221,  294 
Prosecution,  307 
Protection,  164 

Provisions,  51,  118,  122,  146,  230 
Provost  Marshal,  160,  173,  224 
Publisher,  215,  228 
Punctuality,   12 

QUARTERMASTER,  391 
Quartermaster-General,    103,  104 
Queen  Victoria,  232 
Quintard,  Dr.,  49 

RADICALS,  229 
Railroad,  341 
Rain,  42,  43,  47,  50,  52,  92 
Raleigh,  50,  392 


Ranchmen,  23 
Randell,  Mr.,  393 
Randolph,  Edmund,  171 
Randolph,  Mrs.  George,  383 
Rapidan,  103,  115,  116,  118 
Rappahannock,  83,  84,  85,  87,  94, 

95,  96,  103,  104,  106,  108,   109, 

110,  in,  112,  114,  115,  116 
Rations,   73,   93,    103,    119,    122, 

123,  152,  210 
Ravages,  96,  293 
"  Ravensworth,"  30,  32,  33,    34, 

349,   350,   354,   361,   363,    367, 

414,  417,  418 
Reading  Club,  248 
Rebecca,     Cousin     (Mrs.    Tabb), 

407,  408,  409 
Rebel,  348 
Rebukes,  315 

Reception,  347,  350,  381,  388,  392 
Recollections,  56 
Reconstruction,  222,  228,  259,  299 
Records,  219,  247 
Recreation,   213 
Recruits,  121 
Redoubt,  in 
Redress  of  grievances,  26 
Red  Sweet  Springs,  366 
Reed,  Dr.,  399 
Refugee,  143,  209 
Regiment,  21,  34,  38,  41,  58,  121, 

2OI 

Reid,  Colonel,  184,  186,  240,  253 
Reid,  Hon.  W.  B.,  218 
Reinforcements,  38,  130 
Relations,  166 
Relatives,  120,  244 
Relics,  59,  336,  338 
Religion,  105,  106,  335 
Reminiscences,  183 
Reminiscences,  Personal,  of  Gen. 

R.  E.  Lee,  105,  172 
Reporter,  351 
Requier,  A.  J.,  246 
Reserves,   130 
Resignation,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  30, 

436,  440 

Resignation,  letter  of,  25 
Resolutions,  183 
Resources,  71,  211 
Respect,  276,  289,  332,  350,  434 
Responsibilities,  180,  181 
Restoration,  163 
Retreat,  53,  149,  JS0,  *73 
Review,  106,  107,  115 
Revival,  105 
Revolution,  26 
Reynolds,  General,  40 


456 


INDEX 


Rheumatism,    42,    50,    113,    114, 

141,  196,  325,  421,  434 
Richardson,  Mr.,  365,  367,  368 
Richardson,  General,  402 
"Richland,"  350,  355,  356,  367 
Richmond,1^,  2$,  ^9,  >u  ^4,  '35, 
$6,  38,  39,  41,  4?,  5<?,  32,  53.  '54, 
55,  56,  59,  66,  67,  70,  72>  73,  74, 
75,  77,  83,  84,  87,  90,  92,  93,  94, 
97,  98,  102,  103,  107,  108,  109, 

112,     Il6,     117,     122,      123,     124, 

140,   145,   146,   148, 

155, 


130 
149 


131, 
154, 


145,  14 

156,  157,  158, 

160,    161,    162,    164,  165,  169, 

170,    171,    173,    174,  175,  177, 

189,    190,    194,    200,  206,  208, 

216,    219,    220,    223,  224 


231, 

241,  250,  261,  286,  266,  289, 
291,  292,  304,  305,  307,  310, 
311,  312,  313,  321,  327,  341, 

350,  352,  363,  364,  365>  378, 
379,  380,  381,  382,  385,  386, 
388,  391.  396,  399,  4oi,  402, 
404,  405,  407,  410,  415 

Richmond,"  "On  to,  129 

"Richmond"  (horse),  42,  84 

Rich  Mountains,  39 

Ridgely,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chas.,  366 

Rifle-guns,  76 

Rights,  164,  191 

Rio  Grande,  23 

Ritchie,  George,  327 

Ritchie,    Miss   Jennie    (Virginia), 

403,  404 

"  Riversdale,"  356 
Rives,  Wm.  C.,  33 
Roads,  47,  51,  52,  108,  119 
Roanoke,  145 
Rockbridge,  427 

Rockbridge  Alum  Springs,  278, 279 
Rockbridge  Artillery,  70,  78 
Rockbridge  Baths,  185,  237,  359, 

360,  364,  365,  371,  372 
Rockbridge  County,  346 
Rollins,  Mr.,  n 
Romances,  248 
"  Romancoke,"     223,     236,     285, 

304,  309,  312,  364,  406,  408 
Rosecrans,  General,  48 
Ross,  Major,  44 
Rosser,  Gen.  T.  H.,  156,  167 
Rowanty  Creek,  139 
Russell,  Miss,  393 

SADDLE,  83,  84 
St.  John's  River,  397,  398 
St.  Louis,  39,  84,  239 
St.  Paul's  Church,  347 


St.  Peter's  Church,  364,  401 

St.     Petersburg,     United     States 

Minister  at,  340 
Salem,  346,  430 
Salisbury  (N.  C.),  392 
San  Antonio,  23 
Sanderson,  Colonel,  398 
"Santa  Anna,"  5,  6,  n 
Saratoga,  433 
Saunders,  Herbert  C.,  226,    227, 

229 
Savannah,  54,  55,  56,   61,  62,  63, 

64,  65,  144,  385,  386,  389,  390, 

392,   393,    395,    396,   397,   400, 

402,  404,  421 
Savannah  River,  66 
Sawyer,  John  and  James,  90 
Scarcity,    134 
Scenery,  38,  39,  185,  373 
Schofield,  General,  146 
School,  14,  55,   69,  179,  210,  211, 

281 

School  of  Commerce,  369 
School  of  Medicine,  370 
Scholar,  215 
Science,  382 
Scotch,  306 
Scotland,  306 

Scott,  General,  24,  27,  28,  147 
Scouts,  88 
Secession,    27,   233 
Secession,  Ordinance  of,  26 
Secession  of  Texas,  24 
Secession  of  Virginia,  24 
Second  Cavalry,  19,  158 
Second    Virginia    regiment,     431 
Secretary,  165 
Secretary  of  War,    22,    103,   104, 

121,  145 
Secretary  of  War  (C.  S.  A.),  422, 

429 
Seddon,  Hon.  Jas.  A.,  Secretary 

of  War,  C.  S.  A.,  104 
Selden,  Doctor,  209,  401 
Selden,  Miss  Etta,  243 
Selden,  Misses,  419 
Selden,  Mrs.,  401,  402 
Seldens,  The,  209,  403 
Self-control,  407 
Seminary,  355 
Seminary  Hill,  350,  414,  417 
Senate  of  United  States,  debate 

in,  27 

Sentinels,  22 
Sentiments,   223 
Serenade,  393 
Servants,  33,  34,  89,  100,  157,  161, 

239 


INDEX 


457 


Services,  26,  181 

Settlers,   20 

Seven  Days'  fighting,  73,  83 

Seven  Pines,  73 

Severity,  172 

Sewanee,  179,  182 

Sewell's  Mountains,  48 

Shad,  310 

Sharpsburg,  77,  79,  83,  132,  233 

Shaw,  Mrs.,  61 

Shells,  133,  134,  135 

Shenandoah  River,  108 

Shenandoah  Valley,  173,  234 

Sheridan,  General,  124,  145,  147, 

156 

Sherman,  General,    144,  145,  173 
Sherod,  Dr.  and  Miss,  193 
Shiloh,  254 
Shingles,  342 

Shipp,  Colonel,  234,  324,  325,  360 
Shippen,  Mrs.,  133 
Ships,  57 

Shirley,  Captain,  403 
"Shirley,"  53,  54,    232,  292,  313, 

398,  401,  402,  403,  404,  405 
Shirt,   75 

Shoes,  103,  104,  in,  113 
Sickness,  39,  42,  43,   52,  74,  284, 

Sidewalks,  206 
Sidney,  215 

Siege,  130,  148,  284,  289 
Silver,  204,  335 
Simpkins,  John,  323 
Sitting  for  picture,  19 
Sivent,  Mrs.  and  Miss,  422 
Skinker,  Miss  Rose,  197 
Skirmishing,  44,   no 
Slack,  General,  68 
Slaughter,  128 
Slavery,  231,  232 
Slaves,  89,  232,  236 
Sledge,  Mr.,  428 
Sledge,  Mrs.,  423,  428 
Smith,  Francis  L.,  414 
Smith,  General,  187,  426 
Smith,  Mr.,  396,  418 
Smith,  Mrs.,  420 
Smiths,  The,  387 
Smith's    Island,    236,    322,    323, 
326,   327,    328,    339,   341,    343, 
o  353,    378 
Snow,  93,  104 

SoaP,  75,  143 

Socks,  42,  49,  50,    in,  112,  141, 

146,  147 
Sociability,  248 
Society,   Virginia  Historical,    157 


Soldier,  114,  158,  162,  215,  216, 
271,  372,  409,  417 

Soldiers,  39,  105,  112,  124,  125, 

138,  141,  154,  158,  172,  175, 

184,  219,  276,  289,  315,  388, 


390,  392,  393,  420 
)ldiery,  180 


Sol 

Sellers  Point,  10 
Sorrow,  293 
South,  26,  158,  164,  165,  168,  169, 
183,    198,    210,    213,    216,    219, 

221,      223,      225,      228,       229,      230, 
232,      233,      259,     326,      331,     376, 

420,    434 

South  Carolina,  52,  53,  54,  389 
Southern  Life  Insurance  Co.,  376, 

377 

Southern  Road,  400 
Southern  States,  222,  227 
Southside    &   Danville   Railroad, 

i45 

Spanish  Legation,  349 

Spinning-wheel,  112 

Spiritualist,  316 

Sport,   13 

Spottswood,  31,  68 

Spottsylvania,  83 

Spottsylvania  Court  House,  83, 
124, 125 

Spurs,  114 

Staff,  76,  81,  84,  107,  391 

Stage-coaches,   274 

Stanard,  Hugh,  291 

Stanard,  Mrs.  Robert,  31,  291 

Standard,  London,  149,  215 

Stanton,  Secretary  of  War,  172 

State,  170,  183,  210,  374,  375 

States,   162,   163 

Statesmen,  158 

Staten  Island,  6 

Statistics,  220 

Statue,  216 

Staunton,  38,  39,  40,  42,  131,  147, 
208,  209,  251,  256,  261,  329, 
330,  346,  347,  352,  387,  422, 
426,  427,  428,  431,  432 

Stephens,  Hon.  Alex.  H.,  75 

Stewart,  John,  170,  279,  389 

Stewart,  Mrs.  John,  169 

Stewart,  Miss  Marian,  279 

Stewart,  Miss  Mary,  279,  389 

Stieff  (piano-maker),  203 

Stigma,  230 

Stiles,  Kitty,  391 

Stock, i 60 

Stoneman,  145 

"Stonewall  Brigade,"  431 

Storm,  45,  46,  62,  92 


458 


INDEX 


Strangers,  244 

"Stratford,"  55,  56,  59 

Stribbling,  Miss,  261 

Strickler,  G.  B.,  300 

Strickler,  Mr.,  381 

Struggle,  37,  150 

Stuart,  Chas.,  355 

Stuart,  Dr.  Richard,  57,  356 

Stuart,  Gen.  J.  E.  B.,  96,  124,  125, 
250,  251 

Stuart,  Margaret,  92,  123 

Stuart,  Mrs.  Richard,  57,  368 

Stuarts,  The,  367 

Student,  68,  69,  180,  187,  205, 
245»  253,  254,  262,  280,  281, 
294,  295,  298,  299,  300,  301, 
308,  314,  315,  329,  331,  332, 

369,   375.   28l»   383 

Studies,  69,  295,  329 

Study,  281 

Subjugation,  151 

Submission,  164,  165,  181 

Subordinates,  52 

Success,  75 

Suffering,  87,  88,  91,  in,  224, 
438 

Suggestions,  71 

Sullivan's  Island,  62 

Superintendent,  15,  17,  19,  206 

Superintendent  of  Military  Acad 
emy  at  West  Point,  n 

Superstition,  115 

Supervision,  71,  181 

Supplies,  119,  144,  149 

Supreme  Court,  396 

Surgeons,  101 

Surratt,  Mrs.,  172 

Surrender,  130,  146,  148,  151,  152, 
I54,  155.  156,  i57»  I(54,  165, 
169,  170,  218,  233, 391 

Sweet  Springs,  304,  319,  424 

Swift  Run  Gap,  72 

Swimming,  13 

Swinton  (historian),  126,  128, 
150,  261 

Sword,  26,  27,  29,  53,  81,  84,  148, 

r,     154 

Sympathies,  171 
Sympathy,  55 

TABB,  Dr.  Prosser,  407,  409 

Tabb,  Mrs.,  407,  410 

Tact,  295 

Tagart,  Mr.,  348,  432 

Tagart,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  347,  349, 

412,  413 

Tagart,  Mrs.,  413,  433 
Tagarts,  The,  308 


Taliaferro,  Gen.  Wm.  B.,  23 

Taliaferro,  Mrs.,  355 

Tardy,  Misses,  424 

Tardy s,  The,  422 

Tate,  Mrs.,  422 

Tattnall,  Capt.  Josiah,  163 

Taylor,  Captain,  40 

Taylor,  Colonel,  51,  155,  209 

Taylor,  Col.  Walter  H.,  127,  129, 

162 

Taylor,  Erasmus,  109 
Taylor,  George,  432 
Taylor,  Jeremy,  207 
Taylor,  Mrs.,  314,  374 
Teacher,  281,  417 
Teachers  of  Virginia,  Convention 

of,  360 
Tears,  153 
Tennessee,  64 
Tent,  46,  85,  in,  155 
Tenth  Virginia  Infantry,  74 
Testimony,  222 
Texas,  19,  21,  23,  24 
Text-books,  211 
Thanks,  213,  277,  338 
Theological  Seminary,  356 
Third  Army  Corps,  106 
Thirteenth    Virginia    Cavalry, 

119 
Thirty- third   Virginia    Regiment, 

43i 

Thorn,  Mr.,  425 
Thornton's  Gap,  108,  109 
Tiffany,  Henry,  40 
Times,  New  York,  220 
Timothy,  40 
Title,  396 

Topham,  Joseph,  221 
Translation,  211,  213,  214,  215 
"Traveller,"  76,  83,  84,    106,  107, 

127,    147,    155,    166,    167,    169, 

171,  172,    175,    176,    183,    185, 
193,    203,    238,    242,    249,    264, 
265,    266,    269,    271,    272,    274, 
27S.    277,    278,    290,   311,    329, 

33°,   357.    37J,   372.    373,    374 
404,   411,    426,    430,   437 

Treason,  164,  174 

Trenches,  45,  135,  136 

Trent,  Prof.  Wm.  P.,  52 

Trent  Affair,  The,  59 

Trial,    164,    174,    287,    304,    306, 

^  309,  312,  3J3 

Tribute,  212,  218 

Triflers,  295 

Triplett,  Mrs.,  291 

Troops,  22,  34,  35,  36,  103    122 

172,  173,  220,  231,  270 


INDEX 


459 


Troops,  United  States,  32 
Troops,  Virginia,  23 
Troy,  213 
Truce,  29 
Trunk,  50 
Trust,  182 

Trustees,  184,  187,  294,  335 
Trustees,   Board  of,  Washington 
College,  179,  181,  185,  186,  208, 


'Tud< 


435 
Place.' 


"Tudor  Place,"   190,  349 
Tulane  University,  428 
Tunstall's,  405 
Turbeville,  355 
"Turnbulls',"    289 
Turner,  Beverly,  44,  54,  *97 
Turner,  Colonel,  425,  432 
Turner,  Edward,  35,  41,  44 
Turner,  Mr.,  426 
Tutweiler,  H.,  216 
Tygart's  River,  39 
Tyndall,  Mrs.,  23 
Typhoid  fever,  321,  322 

UNDERGRADUATES,  313 
Uniform,  17,  74,  *37»  I39,  15° 
Union,   225 

United  States,  228,  233,  334 
United  States  Armory,  22 
United  States  Army,  159,  165 
United  States  Engineers,  401 
United  States   Government,    164 
United  States  Military  Academy, 

187 
United    States    Minister    at    St. 

Petersburg,  340 

UnitedStates Provost  Marshal,  1 60 
University,  32,  39,  69,  354 
University  Monthly,  281,  301 
University  professors,  68 
University  Publishing  Co.,  398 
University  Students,  68 
University  of  the  South,  179,  182 
University  of  Virginia,   44,    i?9> 

319,   36° 
"Upper  Brandon,     401,  404 

VALLEY  Campaign,  172 

Valley  Mountain,  39,  49 

Valley    Railroad    Co.,    345,    346, 

426,  427,  433 
Valley  River,  44,  46 
Valley  of  Virginia,   71,   73,    14?, 

179,  204 

Valley,  The,  108,  145,  218,  220 
Vandals,  57 
Van  Dorn,  General,  68 
Vanmeter,  Mr.,  425 


Vegetables,   109,   133 

Venable,  Colonel,  151 

Vera  Cruz,  5,  8 

Verses,   212 

Vessels,  62,  66 

Veterans,  153,  154 

Vest,  Mr.,  36 

Vice-chancellorship,  179 

Vice-President  Alex.  H.  Stephens, 

Victoria,  Queen,  232 

Victory,  74,  75,  87,  93,  94,  i38> 

ico,  232,  233 
Violets,  57 
"Violet  Bank,"  133 
Virginia,   24,   26,   29,  36,  42,  48, 

51,  71,  78,  79,  83,  97,  108,  121, 

122,      131,      157,      l6o,      l62,     167, 

168,    182,    198,    213,    216,    221, 

231,  233,  254,  270,  279,  299, 

346,  400,   408,  410 
Virginia,  Governor  of,  46 
Virginia  Cavalry,  9th,  81 
Virginia  Cavalry,  i^th,  119 
Virginia  Central  R.R.,  38 
Virginia  Convention,  28,  351 
Virginia   Historical   Society,    157 
Virginia  Infantry,  loth,  74 
Virginia  Legislature,   208 
Virginia  Military   Institute,    186, 
187,    204,    206,    234,    240,    245, 
262,    298,    324,    352,   374,    381, 

383,  393,  424 

Virginia  &  Tennessee  R.R.,  38 
Virginian,  232 
Virginians,  410 
Visitors,  243,  245,  314 
Volunteers,  31 
Von  Moltke,  316 

WAGNER,  Captain,  299,  300 
Walker,  Mr.,  31 

Walker,  Mrs.,  no,  422,  424,  429 
War,  29,  178,  200,  219,  223,  232, 

236,  287,  292,  415,  420 
War  Department,  172,  219 
Warm  Springs,  38,  241,  242,  313, 

318,  319,  320,  322,  422 
Warrenton,  390,  391,  425 
Warrenton  Springs  (N.  C.),  241, 

384,  386 

Warren  White  Sulphur  Springs,  80 
Warren  County  (N.  C.),  81 
Warriors,   153 
Warwick,  Agnes,  113 
Warwick,  Mr.,  206,  208 
Warwick,    Sally,    113,    194,    i95» 
199,  206,  207,  308 


460 


INDEX 


Washington,  24,  25,  74,  108,  123, 
131,  174,  222,  223,  231,  232, 
274,  321,  336»  338,  346,  348, 
349.  4i3.  4i5»  4i6,  432 

Washington,  General,  179,  232 
33°,  336>  337,  338,  35°.  353. 
354,  364 

Washington,    Mrs.    General,     18, 

337,  353,  354 
Washington,  Col.  John  Augustin, 

40,  45,  47,  49 
Washington,  Miss  Lou,  41 
Washington,    William,    424,    426, 

43° 

Washington  College,  20,  172,  179, 
180,  181,  182,  183,  184,  187, 
205,  208,  210,  234,  237,  254, 
281,  300,  334,  335,  336,  340, 
360,  369,  374,  376,  377,  381, 
428,  434,  435 

Washington  Society,  the,  256 

Washington  and  Lee  University, 
226 

Washington  Star,  309 

Watermelon,  276 

Watkins,  Captain,  176 

Waynesboro,  186 

Weather,  92,  104,  197 

Webb,  Mr.,  381 

Wedding,  193,  197,  199,  207,  284, 
285,  286,  287,  289,  290,  302, 

3i8,    333,    343,    379 
Weir,  Prof.  R.  S.,  19 
Welcome,   289 
Wellington,  316 
West,  Mr.,  340,  341 
West,  Miss,  422 
West  Indies,  60,  6 1 
West  Point,  n,  14,  17,  19,  21,  40, 

165,    183,    206,    250,    268,    277, 

306,  326,  341,  408,  410 
West    Point    Military    Academy, 

187 

West  River,  414 
West  Virginia,  37,  38,  55 
Western  Army,  416 
Wheat,   176,   191,    243,  305,  308, 

310,   311,    328,   333,    340,   353, 

363 

Wheel-chair,  196 
Wheeler  &  Baker,  298 
Wheeling,  6 
White,    Captain  (Professor),  184, 

J87,  274,  372,  421,  424,  427 
White,  Colonel,  425,  426 
White,  Mr.  Henry,  420 
White.  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  391 
White,  Mrs.,  248,  253 


White,  Professor  (Captain),  184, 
187,  274,  372,  421,  424,  427 

White,  Rev.  W.  S.,  187 

"White  House,"  6,  35,  50,  53,  66, 
67,  90,  99,  161,  167,  174,  190, 
191,  223,  235,  236,  250,  261, 
277,  285,  286,  290,  291,  304, 
308,  311,  312,  325,  327,  340, 

34i,  345,   363,    37i,    373,    397, 

398,  400,    401,    402,    403,    404, 

405,  406,    407,    410,   411,   414, 
426 

"White  Marsh,"  407,  408 

White  Sulphur   Springs,    81,   82, 

239,  241,    260,    269,    274,    276, 

284,  304,    319,    320,    321,    322, 

324,    347,   359,    36°,    365,    368, 

370,    393,    424,    427,    430,   432 
Whittle,  Bishop,  352,  353 
Wickham,  Miss,  358,  359,  360 
Wickham,  Annie,  365 
Wickham,  Mr.,  99,  288,  333 
Wickham,  Mrs.,  98 
Wickham,  General,  161 
Wickham,  W.  P.,  97 
Wickham,  Williams,  287 
Wife,  235,  242,  278,  282, 
Wilderness,  83,  124,  126,  127,  129, 

220 

Wilkins,   Mr.,   382 
Wilkinson,  Captain,  199 
Will,  89,  236 
Williams,   Martha  Custis   ("Mar- 

kie"),  37,  367,  411 
Williams,  Grubb  &,  333 
William  and  Mary  College,  360, 374 
Williamson,  Miss,  197,  199 
Williamson,  Colonel,  418 
Williamsport,    101 
Wilmer,  Bishop,  182 
Wilmer,  Dr.,  186 
Wilmington,  400,  403 
Winchester,  55,  79,  193,  371 
Winter,  91,  93 
Winter  quarters,  115,  118 
Wirz,  230,  231 
Wise,  General,  38,  39,  48 
Wise,  Miss  Nannie,  382 
Witness,  304 
Wives,    112 
Wolseley,  Lord,   130 
Women,  86 

Wood,  Col.  John  Taylor,  157 
Wood,  John,  288 
Work,  56 
Worries,  187 
Worsley,    Philip    Stanhope,    211, 

213,    214 


INDEX 


461 


Wound,  98,   137 
Wreath,  367 
Wright,  Mr.,  393 

YANKEE,  57,  233,  267 

Yarn,  113 

" Yearling,"  369 


Yellow  Tavern,  124 
York  River,  35,  407,  408 
York  River  R.  R.,  277 
Yorktown,  128 

Young  Men's  Christian  Associa 
tion,  263,  300 
Youth,  210 


TTTF,  LAST 


DEC 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

Return  to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 

°n  the  last  date  stamPed  below. 


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, 

LD  21-100TO-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 


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MAR  A  3  1957 


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AR  12 ;::: 


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REC'D  LD 


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JAN    2  1958 


REC'D 


23Jan'59JB 

'*?n  in 


26 


>    '67 -1PM 
OAN  DEPT. 


IX 


191180 


